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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "abubakarsaud@blumail.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Abubakar Saud <abubakarsaud19@msn.com>
Reply-To: <abubakarsaud@blumail.org>
Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2012 12:56:06 +0000
Subject: ATTENTION:
FROM THE DESK OFABUBAKAR BIN SAUD LAW CHAMBERSLEGAL SOLICITORS/PRIVATE
56 JALAN RAJA CHULANKUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIADIRECT LINE: +60146391395
Dear
Your
name and e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted by my law
firm, ABUBAKAR BIN SAUD, Law Chambers in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
My name
is Mr. Abubakar Bin Saud Esq., A personal attorney to my late client
Mr.Edward Lynn who worked with an oil firm here in Malaysia. Mr.Edward
Lynn a well known Philanthropist, before he died made a WILL in my law
firm stating that $9.5M Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars only should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice
outside Malaysia (Overseas).
It is
my utmost desire to execute the WILL of my late client. You are required
to contact me immediately to start the process of transferring the
funds to any of your designated official bank account. I urge you to
contact me immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank
has given us a date limit.
A swift
acknowledgment of the receipt of this letter and early establishment of
position will be appreciated. Contact me urgently through my direct
email address: abubakarsaud@blumail.org
Regards,
Barr.Abubakar Bin Saud Esq.
(LLB Hon.)D/L: +60146391395
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