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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:
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "@lawyer.com" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- woven.martins@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Lombard Neilsen ESQ" <peterhopkins@post.com>
Reply-To: woven.martins@lawyer.com
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 14:55:17 +0100
Subject: Business Assistant
Calle Christo 9, 28008
Madrid Spain
Tel } +34 603 308 460
E-mail: woven.martins@lawyer.com
Hello Dear,
Compliments of the day
I do recognized the surprise this mail will bring to you most especially
as it comes from a stranger. I came across your email address today when i
was browsing in the internet on British Chamber of Commerce and picked
interest in your profile. Please accept my apology if my mode of
contacting you will in any way offend you, I have no options rather than
to contact you via this means for obvious reasons which you will
understand when we discuss in details. I am Mr Lombard Neilsen Lawyer
legal adviser / personal Lawyer to Late SCHOT THOMAS a national of
Australia resident here in Spain a deceased client of mine. I am
contacting you to stand as the beneficiary assist retrieve his huge
deposit of €8.5 Million Euro left in the bank in Barcelona/Spain before it
will be confiscated by bank top officials and transfer the funds to the
Hacienda Bank Account as the law stated. Reply back for more clarified
details on this transaction. Thanks for your sincere co-operation; I wait
your urgent reply asp.
Please treat confidential.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Lombard Neilsen ESQ.
International Attorney-at-Law
Woven Martins Law Firm Solicitors & Advocates
Tel } +34 603 308 460
E-mail: woven.martins@lawyer.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
