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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:
- "million 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "high court" (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.
- 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.
- thomasbrown546@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Thomas Brown <info@infor.org>
Reply-To: thomasbrown546@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 01:23:51 +0200
Subject: MODEST PROPOSAL
THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION
We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the total sum of $65,000,000.00 (Sixty Five million Dollars) in the codicil and last testament of the deceased. (Name now withheld since this is our second letter to you).I contacted you because you bear the same surname with the late client therefore you can be presented as the beneficiary/Next of kin to the inheritance of the late client.
I therefore reckoned that you can receive these funds as you are qualified by your surname name identity.
All the legal document will be process in your name after I receive a reply from you that we can work together in this deal, so I request that you forward to me the following information:
Your current telephone and fax number:
Your address:
With your details the Attorney will be able to file in all the necessary documents at the high court probate division for the release of this sum of money to you without any delay.
You are entitle to 70% of this money while I will also take 30%, Note that this funds will be transfered to your designated bank account after all legal processing has been met with.
kindly contact us with the details below for more information kindly send your details to my private email for more information(thomasbrown546@yahoo.com)
Yours faithfully,
Thomas Brown
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