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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (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.
- 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.
- +447045720645 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- aqdbenson@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: BarristerAdams Benson <aqdbenson@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2014 12:46:03 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION
Chambers Business Consulting Ltd.
Barrister Benson Adams
Attorney and Solicitors
Duchess house,18-19 Warren
Street London W1p5DB
Telephone:.... +447045720645
Fax............+447053814691
E-mail:aqdbenson@hotmail.com
My
name is Barrister Benson Adams; I work with the Rey fields
Investigations, a Consulting Firm in London, UK. We are conducting a
standard process investigation involving a client who shares the same
name with you and also the circumstances surrounding $60m Deposit made
by this client at a security company UK.
The security company UK
client died and you are nominated as next of kin to inherit the title
of the Deposit made with your name in the security company UK. The
essence of this communication with you is to request that you provide us
information on three issues:
1-Are you aware of any relative/relation having the same surname Thompson, whose last known contact address was in America?
2-Are
you aware of any Deposit of considerable value $60m deposit made by
such a person in your name at the security company UK?
3-Can you establish beyond reasonable doubt your eligibility to assume status of next of kin to the deceased?
It
is pertinent that you inform us ASAP whether or not you are familiar
with this personality that we may put an end to this communication with
you and our inquiries surrounding this personality.
You
must appreciate that we are constrained from providing you with more
detailed information at this point.Get back to me as soon as possible
to afford us the opportunity to close this investigation.
Thank you for accommodating our inquiry.
Yours sincerely,
Barrister Benson Adams
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