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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "million us 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)
- "top secret" (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.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "@lawyer.com" (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.
- barr_simpson_chamber@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Barr. Simpson Millar <barr_simpson_chamber@ymail.com>
Reply-To: barr_simpson_chamber@lawyer.com
Date: Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:47:02 +0300
Subject: I hope i can trust you!
Dear Sir/Madam,
This is Barrister Simpson Millar, a private attorney/solicitor to late Muammar Gaddafi (Former Libyan Leader). He entitle is UK bank account informations to me a year before he was killed during the war in Libya, and his son (Motassim Gaddafi) was the next of kin but unfortunately he is also dead.
Therefore, i wish to place you as the sole beneficiary to late Muammar Gaddafi's $5 Million US Dollars in the HSBC Bank Plc UK. So i need your help to secure the online bank transfer of the entire money to your bank account afterwhich we will both share the money equal.
I have the neccessary informations needed and if you are interested in this deal, please contact my direct email: barr_simpson_chamber@lawyer.com
I strongly advise you to keep this transaction top secret between us in order to ensure the smooth transfer of the $5 Million USD to your Bank Account.
Awaiting your prompt response!
Barr. Simpson Millar
The Law Society UK.
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