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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:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: " On receipt of your response, I will send you the documents (Evidence)pertaining to th" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <laurich002@india.com>
Date: Sun, 25 May 2014 23:19:13 -0700
Subject: I,M A FINANCIAL CONSULTANT HERE IN LONDON
A client of mine who was a successful business man that bears the same last name with you but not related to you passed away many years ago ; unfortunately his only son been the heir to the fund 12.7 Million English Pounds passed away with him in a aghast auto crash so many years back leaving a vacuumed to be fill ;having divorced his wife ; none of his family relation knew that such fund exist
The bank where my late customer deposited the fund have mandated me to produce his next of kin or have the fund confiscated by invoking abandoned property degree of 1936 in accordance with the law of United Kingdom.
It was in this circumstance I decided to communicate with you believing that you have the potential to handle this project
I hereby assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free and will be conducted in a legitimate manner without any financial misconduct. I should respect your trust on me as the financial adviser to the late client.
I hereby reiterate that the fund will be share in the following ratio; You will be entitle to 50% ; 40% for me while 10% will take care all expenses in the process of the fund transfer
Kindly contact me immediately by furnishing me with your complete Information
1) Direct phone number
2) Mobile phone number
3) Your age
4) Your postal address
5) Nature of job/position
6) Marital Status
7)Your full names
Thanks
Laurich
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Anti-fraud resources:
