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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Angela Maria Montoya <www.@wonder.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Angela Maria Montoya <angelamariamontoya1@outlook.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2018 04:45:39 +0900 (JST)
Subject: My warmest greetings to you.
May the peace of almighty God be with you and your entire household.
I know it will be a great surprise for you receiving this message from me today but consider this a divine intervention as my pastor explained to my understanding. My names are Angela Maria Montoya, a widow from Cartagena Colombia, and I'm writing you from my sick bed because I have been fighting cancer for quite a while now.
I will tell you more about myself and also explain why I need your help. Please get back to me soon as receive this message, because my health is pretty bad and my doctors says I will be moved to the intensive care unit anytime soon.
Have a blessed day and please do pray for me.
God bless you.
Yours Faithfully
Mother:
Angela Maria Montoya.
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Anti-fraud resources:
