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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:
- "hundred thousand united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- 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.
- dawatson66@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Dannah Watson <rbtg19@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <dawatson66@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2020 23:07:49 -0700
Subject: Beloveth
Ms Dannah Watson,
Email:dawatson66@hotmail.com
Beloveth
My name is Dannah Watson currently undergoing medical treatment as a result of cancer. I am married to Philip Watson for over a decade before he died in 2014. Although, he was very sick in 2012 and people felt that he died then but he survived that year and he later died in 2014. We were married for fifteen years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for two weeks. Before his death he made a vow to use his wealth for the down trodden and the less privileged in the society. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $25.6 Million (Twenty Five Million Six hundred thousand United States Dollars) in a Vault with a Security/Finance House as a personal effect. Presently, this money is still with them there. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next 150 days due to cancer problem.Though what disturbs me most is my stroke. Having known my condition I decided to
In Christ,
Ms Dannah Watson(Benefactor).
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Anti-fraud resources: