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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- bray_williams@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Judith Peters" <info@judithpeters.com>
Reply-To: bray_williams@aol.com
Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2022 13:41:44 -0800
Subject: Greetings!!
Attention!
My name is Mrs Judith Peters 65 years successful business woman dealing on exportation, i got your email contact through a search in order to let you know my ugly situation.I am a dying woman here in Los Angeles California hospital bed United State with Covid-19 symptoms and cancer, i lost my husband and my only daughter with same symptoms of Covid-19 last year 2021 and as i write to you my doctor has open up to me saying he is afraid to tell me the present condition of my health in conclusion that i will not survive it and i can't live alone on this earth without my family.
The main reason of contacting you is that i have a charity project which i would like to hand over to you before i leave this world as the condition of my health continue to weaken me everyday, i have already instructed a financial institution name withheld which i am an account holder with the bank to transfer my fund worth $35,000.000.00 to you which you will take 40% for yourself while 60% goes to the Charity home and please don't think otherwise why would someone you barely know send such a message of help to you.
I beg you in the name of God Almighty to carry out this project of mine perfectly with the fear of God in order to better the lives of the less privileged for this is what God said i should do for the happiness of my soul and for God to show mercy to me and my family and to give us a good place as i am about leaving this world.
Please do as i have instructed you and i thought of someone i deeply love in my state here to carry out this project but i have no means to reach her or any charity home that is the reason i go for personal search that is how i got your email contact to let you know my bitterness and situation i am passing through.
I would like you to contact my lawyer with the below information to guide and direct you on how you can receive this charity fund since my doctor has stated that i have few days to live and i am finding it very difficult to breathe right now, i am afraid and not sure if i can stay up to 24 hours.
Please contact my lawyer as soon as possible via his private email address;
Contact Name: Barrister Williams Bray
Email: bray_williams@aol.com
May God Almighty bless you and your family as you carry out this charity project designed by God and I know one day we shall meet and part no more.
My sincere regards,
Mrs.Judith Peters.
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