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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:
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- +447035917992 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barr. Smith Steve" <iboriholdingsplc@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: barr.smithsteve@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2012 20:16:46 +0200
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED.
Attn.
Mr/Master/Mrs/Miss:
I am Barr. Smith a solicitor to my deceased client Late Philip Bergman an
International Business man who was very kind, hard working and a great
philanthropist but died a Heart attack 5years ago and made her only daughter
the next of kin to all his landed properties and funds in the security company
in worth of $15miilion United States Dollars and ever since the daughther has
been no where to be found every attempt was made my the investigation
depertment to locate her was abortive until resently when i got a report that
she died of cancer few months after the death of her Late father and she
happens to be the only child of her father, so now i seek your help to
stand in
as the next of kin to late Miss Christiana Bergman as i will make every
documents which wil be forwarded to the security company prooving you as the
next of kin so you can get the funds and we share at raio 60% for me and 40%
for you being a compensation on your expenses, I would have gotten the funds
myself but the security company knows me as the private Barrister to my client
so i wouldn't wanna get it rather i want an unknown person who will act as the
next of kin and i have the authority to call for the release of the funds
within few days upon presentation of some documents and the funds br
brought to
you immediately.
I want you to know this transaction is 100% risk free and if not cliam
it might
be taking back into the government treasure house and this is a once in a life
time opportunity for both of us, so i need you to get back to me with the
following details for preparation of documentation for further proceedings.
Full Name:
Home or office address:
Direct cell no:
Age:
Sex:
Occupation:
Hoping to read from you soonest as we don't have much time left.
Barr. Smith (Esq)
+447035917992
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