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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:
- "my names are " (a common phrase found 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.
- mrsmurrin346@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Murrin Spencer" <regsct7@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrsmurrin346@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2020 13:59:09 +0000
Subject: Pray for it
Hello dearest child of God. My names are Mrs. Murrin Therese Spencer. I
want to use this opportunity to inform you that God has directed me to you,
in handling his work in charity and to fulfill my wishes in helping the
less privileges in building of charity foundation in your country through
you.
I am a Turkish national married to a British citizen who was a Petroleum
Engineer in Turkey and before my husband death we were married for 30 years
without a child. After the death of my husband I decided not to remarry,
but it is unfortunate that sickness I do not know much about attacked my
life called (Blood Cancer Leukemia ). All I and my late husband have I
wish to donate it to you as God directed. I want you to use it and build a
charity foundation in your country. All we have is One million and Five
Hundred Thousand Euros which has been deposited with a bank in Turkey .
God almighty will bless you as you handle this charity project. My dear,
God know about you as we never meet each other before, don't allow wrong
thought to distract you. After the project 15% will be your compensation
for doing the work of God in charity.
Your prayers are all I need.
Respond to me ( mrsmurrin346@gmail.com ) after your prayers towards this
charity work and I will direct you on how to receive the fund. My God guide
you.
Mrs. Murrin Therese Spencer
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Anti-fraud resources:
