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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- mrs.jdavis@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs. Hilda Davis<info@lee.org>
Reply-To: mrs.jdavis@hotmail.com
Date: 06 Nov 2018 17:38:37 +0500
Subject: Dear Beloved One
Dear Beloved One. Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and
Savior.
I am writing this letter to you with the believe that you will
treat
my message with utmost honesty and sincerity of purpose for
confiding
in you even though I have not met you before this moment.
My name is Mrs. Hilda Davis. I am married to Mr. Johnson Davis.
Who
worked with Kuwait embassy in Lome Togo for nine years before he
died
in the year 2010. We were married for fourteen years without a
child,
He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days and
before his death we were both born again Christian, When my late
husband was alive he deposited the sum of ($4.5 MILLION U.S.A
DOLLARS)
with Security Company in Lome city of Togo.
Currently I am suffering from esophageal cancer for years now and
have
undergone series of cancer treatments but no avail. Recently My
Doctor
told me privately that I might not survive this cancer illness
due to
the cancer has damage my Kidney, Having known my health condition
I am
in need of a honest Hearted Individual. A Christian or Church
that
will utilize this fund the way I am going to instruct herein.
Having known my condition I want you to utilize this funds for
charity
works according to the desire of my late husband to help Less
privileged people, Orphanages, Widows and Propagating the word of
God.
I took this decision because I don't have any child that will
inherit
this fund, My soul will not be at rest if this fund is used in an
ungodly way hence my decision for contacting you over this fund.
I am
not afraid of death hence I know where I am going.
Kindly respond back to my private Email ID:(
mrs.jdavis@hotmail.com
) hoping to read from you soon.
With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply
I
shall give you the details of this fund, I will also issue you an
authorization letter that will prove you the present beneficiary
of
this fund as soon as I hear from you.
May God Bless You
Mrs. Hilda Davis.
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Anti-fraud resources:
