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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:
- "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)
- "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 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.
- +447045779310 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Barrister Michael Jones <barmchealjones@att.net>
Reply-To: barmchealjoneschambers@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:27:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: How is your Family
From : Barrister Mcheal Jones
Address: 50 Stroud Green Road
London N4 3EF.
England
Telephone : +447045779310
Attn:
I am Mr.Micheal Jones a lawyer to the senior auditor of the Barclay's
Bank , England,Mr Laurence Hamack I am writing you in respect to an
account my client discovered during the first quarter auditing at the
bank the account has been dormant for 4yrs and 5 months now and the
account is in your last name that is the reason I contacted you.
Note: the sum in the account is 13.5 Million United States Dollars
converted , the account is attached with an ATM card , which will be
issued to you if you can take possession of the account as a relative
of the account owner which is now deceased and this because you carry
same family name. I would appreciate if you could take possession of
these funds by providing an account in your country where the funds
can be transferred to avoid being confiscated by the Barclay's bank.
You would get a 30% compensation for your role after the successful
transfer.
I would make other vital details available to you upon your response
to my proposal. Please provide me with the information below for
confidential discussion on this:
Full name :
Address:
D.O.B:
Sex:
Tel :
Mob :
Occupation:
I will patiently await your swift reply in other to proceed with the
transaction and your more details.
Thanks for your understanding and co- peration.
Best regards,
Bar.Micheal Jones Esq
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