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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:
- "million 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)
- "mylawfirm-chongwong@hotmail.my" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:15:25 -0500
Subject: contact if you are interested
I am Chong Wong, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, that
shares the same last name as yours,I have contacted you to assist in
distributing the money left behind by my client before it is
confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this deposit
valued at Seventeen million five hundred thousand dollars( US$17.5
million dollars) is lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to
contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated. EMAIL
(mylawfirm-chongwong@hotmail.my) me for details and treat with
absolute confidentiality
and sincerity. I look forward to your quick reply.
Best regards,
Attorney Chong Wong
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Anti-fraud resources:
