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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "azinodochambers@qatar.io" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "azinodochambers@qatar.io" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "From Barrister Azikiwe Nwaobodo," (may be fake)
Reply-To: <azinodochambers@qatar.io>
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:11:05 +0100
Subject: From Barrister Azikiwe Nwaobodo,
From Barrister Azikiwe Nwaobodo,
Suite 46, 7th floor bar beach towers,
Cotonou - benin republic.
Phone: + 229 9794 7363
E-mail (azinodochambers@qatar.io)
Dear Sir,
My name is Barrister Azikiwe Nwaobodo . Of the above address and personal assistance to one (Mr. Franklin Brown) a national of your country now late. He died on his way to a seminar to Spain in auto crash on the 30th day of april 2005. My late boss was the chief executive officer of (african development oil company) for 25 years . He was re-contracted as a petroleum consultant to the company before this unfortunately incident occured on the above date just after a month. He left all his credentials with me for the drafting of his new contract agreement that will bind his new contract with african development company.
Before his death my boss made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months valued at (us $25.450m) with the "BANCO STANDER SECURITY COMPANY MADRID SPAIN" with open beneficiary and no one will ever come forward to claim this fund since his sudden death and according to Spainish banking and Financial law the money will revert to the ownership of the Spain Government if the account Depositor is certified dead and nobody comes forward to claim it after five years. So far the bank has just written me a routine notification to provide the next of kin of late( Franklin Brown) or have the account confiscated within the next (21) official working days.
I would like to appoint you as the next of kin so that i can procceed with forwarding all the vital documents covering the sum of (us $25.450m) to you for safe keeping and our sharing on this is 50% - 50% basis. I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.
All i require is your honest and co operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Be noted that to make this claim you will travel to the Security Company in Spain. Because once i concluded the arrangement with you the Security Company will contact for payment.
Please acknowledge this letter if you're minded to assist through my
e-mail: (azinodochambers@qatar.io) .
I will handle the whole process as soon as you respond back to this
proposal indicating your interest to assist with your information.
Thannks
Barrister Azikiwe Nwaobodo.
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