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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- shahrinbineliass@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "SBE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <shahrin_bnelias@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:29:47 +0800
Subject: Good Day!
Good day,
I do apologize if the content here under are contrary to your moral
ETHICS,but please treat it with absolute secrecy and personal courtesy.
I have written an earlier email to you but no response; I am writing
following an opportunity in my office that will be of immense benefit
to both of us.In my first email I did mentioned to you about my late
client who had some huge fund deposited with a bank in malaysia before
he died in 2004;He (my late client) bears the same surname with
you.
Since his death I have received several letters from the
Bank,requesting me to provide his next of kin or any of his relatives
who can make claim before the end of the year or they will be left
with no option than to confiscate everything.
I have conducted my personal search to see if I can make contact with
any of his relatives but without success, it is in the course of my
effort that I have to contact you. I have closely checked and since
you bear the same surname with my deceased client it will be better to
present you as the next of kin and the right beneficiary of the fund
in the account with the bank. I will provide you with all the
necessary legal backup that is required until this money is paid out
to you by the bank, and then we both shall share it base on our
agreement.
Do respond quick if you are interested or should you need further
clarification because we have no much time left.Get back to me via:
shahrinbineliass@hotmail.com
Warm regards from Malaysia
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