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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- helenarockefeller001@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Raphael Kamara <s6111118@nmrtup.ac.th>
Reply-To: rkamara999@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 8 May 2024 10:50:56 +0100
Subject: PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO USE IT FOR THE COVID-19 PATIENTS.
Dear beloved one ,
PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO USE IT FOR THE COVID-19 PATIENTS.
I am Mrs.Helena Rockefeller I am married to Dr.Kevin Rockefeller both of us
are USA citizen's he died in the year 2007. We were married for eleven
years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only
four days . Since his death, I decided not to re-marry.
I have decided to invest my Inherited fund of ( $15.000,000.00) Fifteen
Million united states dollars in your country . Further, the proceeds of
the fund should be utilized for developing medical devices to eradicate
Covid-19 type viruses and to develop a school in the name of my late
husband. The school will not charge any fees and will be for children of
poor families and the less previlege. The funds will be directly
transferred into your account so you can assist me Distribute my funds to
charity homes in your country ,
I want you to use the funds for the orphanages, widows and also build
schools for less privileges that will be named after my late husband if
possible. Assure me that you will act accordingly as I state herein. Hoping
to receive your response immediately through my private email address at: (
helenarockefeller001@yahoo.com)
Thanks and Remain blessed.
Yours of Good Heart.
Mrs. Helena Rockefeller.
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