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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:
- 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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Colin & Christine Weir" <wallacy@crcrj.org.br>
Reply-To: barr.jordi.esteban@foxmail.com
Date: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 11:10:44 -1100
Subject: Second Communication Of A Fund In Your Name
ESTEBAN & PARTNERS
FROM THE DESK OF
BARRISTER JORDI ESTEBAN
Mara de Molina 6, 5th Floor
Madrid 28006
Spain
Good Day,
I am the sole executor and trustee of the estate of a testator and I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address stated on the WILL as my previous notification to you was returned undelivered.I wish to notify you that my deceased client made you a beneficiary to her WILL. She left the sum of Five Hundred and Three Thousand Euros(503,000Euros) to you in the codicil to her last will and testament.
Upon your response to this email,I shall provide you with further details about this funds to you .I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Best Regards,
Barrister Jordi Esteban
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Anti-fraud resources: