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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million pounds" (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)
- "very confidential" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "James Lemms" <jlemmsolicitors@live.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2013 16:52:36 -0000
Subject: Important message
Trust you are in good health. I do know that my email will appear to be
strange to you. But I want you to read it very carefully and take this
issue seriously as well. I am a Solicitor and I did solely represent my
late client many years ago by the name: He is deceased and I was contacted
by the Bank that he had a dormant deposit for the sum of £3.5million
pounds.
Until his death had no child, wife or family. I have tried on several
occasions to track any of his relatives and hence I got in contact with
you.
I want you to help me privately repatriate the above sum before it gets
confiscated by the Bank.
If we do not respond, the Bank will have no choice but to confiscate the
funds. I want you to be very confidential about this process if not it
can jeopardize the entire process. I am willing to give you 40% of the
entire funds and 20% will be set aside for any expenses that we may
incure during the entire process. I trust you will work together with me
and we will achieve results. Do get back to me as soon as possible so
that I can give you more details.
Yours Sincerely,
James Lemms.
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