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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (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.
- 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.
- ablawchamber@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Ahmed Bashiru <dr.maxwellalexis@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ablawchamber@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2012 14:22:59 -1200
Subject: Can I Trust on this $15,Million Dollars Project?????
Dear Friend
I am very sorry for the inconvenience I know this message may come to you
as a very big surprise because you don't know me.I am contacting you with a
proposals i know this may seems like a complete intrusion to your privacy
but please consider it as a divine wish and see it with a deep sense of
humility.
I acted as Personal Attorney to late (Eng r,Robert Augusto) who lived and
worked here in Togo for more than twenty years as a major contractor.On the
21st April 2006 he and his wife and their only daughter died in an
automobile accident while visiting a neighboring country on vacation.
And,he had an investment deposited total sum of ($15.Million United State
Dollars) with his bank here.i need your co-operation to enable us get this
fund claim with his bank here.
Send me your REPLY to my personal email address (ablawchamber@hotmail.com)
For complete information about this legal transaction will be given to you
as soon as you reply to my personal email address.
Best Regards,
Barrister Jorge Antonio.
Direct No:+22898027100.
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