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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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- lynettemutemwa@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Lynette Mutemwa <lynettemutemwa@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 16:08:28 +0100
Subject: MY DEAR FRIEND,
I am Barr.Lynette Mutemwa an attorney in Japan, I would like to seek for your assistance towards fund belonging to a deceased client of mine who shares the same last name with you because the custodian financial institution is at the verge of confiscating his deposit worth £9,850,000.00 if I do not present any next of kin in the next 21 working days.I would appreciate your immediate response,further details of my proposal to you.I look forward to your reply.Kindly get back to me via my email: lynettemutemwa@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
