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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "high court" (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.
- 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.
- +447045721207 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Hipolito Rodrigues de Souza Neto" <hrodrigues@joaopessoa.pb.gov.br>
Reply-To: cs.sstanley.charless@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 02:45:55 -1200
Subject: WHAT IS HAPPENING TO GRAHAM ROBERT FUND
Dear Fund Trustee,
This is in regard to your pending funds with the transferring bank; I have
previously contacted you regarding the transferring processing of the funds
from Mr. Graham Robert to you, Ever since the death of Mr. Graham Robert, I
have been informing you of the fact that the funds should be transferred
immediately to your account because of the fact that the British High court
of justice have started making advances towards the funds of Graham Robert
and Mr. Graham has clearly stated that if the beneficiary of the fund is not
competent enough to handle the charity funds, the said fund should be
confiscated by the British High Court and should be used for charity. Note
that the reason why you were selected for this transaction is to ensure that
Mr. Graham Robert dying wish is met. Mr. Graham willed this fund to you
because he believes you are competent enough to handle this fund and use it
for the purpose of charity.
I can’t imagine why you will be delaying the transfer process, the
transferring bank only requested for the account activation fee and they said
the account setup fee will be added back to the amount to be transferred to
your account. I think you should try your utmost best to make this
transaction a success. You will recall that you willingly chose to accept the
bequest of Graham Robert and you promised to use this fund for charity.
You are therefore advice to proceed with the transfer of the funds to your
account without further delay. I await your reply in this regard to ensure
the speedy processing of the funds to your account. I am willing to make sure
that Mr. Graham Roberts’s dying wish is made a success. You are to inform me
of the exact time you will be able to raise the account activation fee needed
by the transferring bank to setup your online account to ensure that the fund
is transferred to you as soon as possible.
Have a nice day
Charles Stanley.
+4470457 21207
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Anti-fraud resources:
