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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Bar Rodrigue Dimkpa <barrodrigue.dimkpa@mrgarymoorer.net>
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:35:48 -0800 (PST)
Subject: READ AND GET BACK TO ME
Greetings!
I am Rodrigue Dimkpa, a legal practitioner and am writing to
seek your consent over an issue that has to do with my late client who used to
work with Shell Development Company in Cotonou Benin Republic.
On the 24th of July 2006, my client, his wife and their only daughter were
involved in a car accident along Akonji express Road. All occupants of the
vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries
to his embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has
also proved unsuccessful.
WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU:
The Finance institution my client made a huge fund deposit has issued me a
notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confiscated within the
next twenty one official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in
locating the relatives for over two years now, I seek the consent to present you
as the next of kin to my deceased client so that the proceeds of this account
can be paid to you.I would like you to collaborate with me as the next of kin to
my late clients dormant account so that the huge deposit will be transferred out
of here to a safe account than for the bank management to confiscate this huge
deposit.
I have all necessary information to back you up for the claim.
All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this
transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate
arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the law and also do
note that I will be directly involved and will use my professional experience to
make this claim very legal and 100% risk free.
Please treat this business with utmost confidentiality and send me the
Following information:
(1) Full names:
(2) Private phone number:
(3) Age:
(4)
Country:
I will forward to you a comprehensive details on this transaction and
what we are to do and will also guide you discreetly on information needed for
the successful conclussion of the fund transfer to you for us to claim this fund
for our mutual disbursement upon my reciept of your reply and the
informations.
I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible and also you can
call me on +229 97 014077.
Best Regards,
Barrister Rodrigue Dimkpa Esq.
+229 97 014077.
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