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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "with your full names" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- 3asmithlaws@publicist.com (Publicist; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- *(solicitors & advocates)* *reply using email:sm ithrbt@yahoo.co.uk * *dear (Publicist; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Robert Smith & Co" <gmklaws@gmail.com>
Reply-To: smithlaws@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 02:02:24 +0700
Subject: Treat as Urgent, Please
--
*Robert Smith & Associates*
*(Solicitors & Advocates)*
*Reply using Email:sm <Email%3Asmithlaws@publicist.com>ithrbt@yahoo.co.uk
<ithrbt@yahoo.co.uk>*
*Dear Sir/Madam*
*I am the attorney to **Mrs Aminat a wife to one of the immediate past
ministers of Syrian government ** and based upon her instructions and
directives I am contacting you.*
*My above client are urgently searching for a reliable foreigner to assist
her for a mutual business benefit.*
*Be informed that Mrs Aminat a wife to one of the immediate past ministers
of Syrian govt. which is now in disarray by Islamic Militants and her
husband was captured,detained and Killed by Islamic militants .*
*She succeeded in running away from Syria with her only one son whom she
decided now to use the money in the family to send him out of her country
and establish a business for him with the sum of Nine Million U.S. Dollars
($9.000,000.00) but unfortunately the son is still at a tender age,
can not handle such project. The Money is Currently Deposited in an
offshore Security Account by the Now late Husband.*
*Therefore she appealed to me to contact any foreigner who will use
his/her wild business experience to take care of her son and invest this
money properly for him in your country because the militants are still
hunting for him as she will not like them to kill him as she is currently
now advanced and old can no longer travel to places but will appreciate
and ready to agree on a 30% for your helping or joint business venture if
you accept to assist her offer,*
*If interested and reliable please contact me for more details via Email: **sm
<Email%3Asmithlaws@publicist.com>ithrbt@yahoo.co.uk <ithrbt@yahoo.co.uk>
with your Full Names/ Address & Telephone Data.*
*I await your urgent response. *
*Regards,*
*Robert Smith Esq*
*Attorney at law*
*Email: <Email%3Asmithlaws@publicist.com>**sm
<Email%3Asmithlaws@publicist.com>ithrbt@yahoo.co.uk <ithrbt@yahoo.co.uk>*
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