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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)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- m.dlawfirm111@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Dominic Law Firm <emmagoodluck@gmail.com>
Reply-To: m.dlawfirm111@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 01:13:54 -0700
Subject: Get back to me as soon as possible
Dear friend ,
How are you doing today? I am contacting you in regards to a
$22.855.000.00 million of your family Legacy inheritance funds which
has been ready to be release into your account. The money was
deposited by one of your relative who is now late. He pronounce you as
the beneficiary of this fund before his death. I was his personal
attorney and I am here to represent you in making the claim and have
the money transfer directly into your account in your country.
Therefore, You are hereby advised to resend to me
Your Full Name:.........................
Telephone Numbers:..................
Home or office address:.............
Occupations:............................
Nationality:...............................
Age and Sex:...........................
So that we can proceed with the legal procedures in carrying out this
operation without any delay. Remember my contacting you is base on
recommendation, trust and confidentiality. I hope my message will not
cause you much embarrassment as I write to you in good manner.
Thank you.
Dominic Maxwell
Barrister-AT-LAW (CDF, LLM. BL)
Email: m.dlawfirm111@gmail.com
skype: m.dlwfirm
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