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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:
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Charles Stanley" <c.stanleyesq@lawyer.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: charlesstanley000101@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:52:33 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Graham Robert Fund Trustee
Dear Fund Trustee
This is in regard to the recent deadline notice as well as the extension
of deadline for the Graham Robert fund transfer, I write to inform you
that I have not received any positive response in this regard ever since
the deadline notice.
we have again received a letter from the British high court and they want
you to understand that it’s not as if they really have interest on the
Graham Robert fund, it’s just that they can’t imagine the fact that
despite the huge funds willed you, you are still delaying the transfer
process especially when you know the fund was willed to you for the
purpose of charity. They think the money should be used for its desired
purposes (charity) as a lot of people out there are seriously in need of
help and this money could really help yet you are allowing it waste why
people are dying.
The British High court wants you to understand that in line with the
Graham Robert will, which states that if the beneficiary of the fund is
not able to transfer the funds, the funds should be confiscated by the
British High court on grounds of incompetence and should be used also for
the purpose of charity. To this end they wish to inform you they also have
a right to the fund as their name was also mentioned on the (will).
To this end they have requested that you inform us of the exact time you
will be able to pay the said transfer charges as requested by the
transferring bank. You are therefore advised at this point to inform this
office of the exact time you will be able to raise the needed fee so I can
contact them and inform them and see if they will approve of it. I also
informed you earlier that that you should inform me of the exact amount
you think you will be able to come up with and the time so I can also
discuss with my directors to see how they can approve it.
I await your response in this regard to enable us end the graham Robert
fund transfer issue.
Have a nice day
Charles Stanley
+4407035956140
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