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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (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. )
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Greg" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gw708182@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 17:08:04 -0000
Subject:
Good Day,
My name is Mr. Williams Greg, I am an South Africa Citizen born and brought up here in UK and my entire family is resident here in UK. I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter, but it was borne out of desperation and current development. Please bear with me as i said my name is Mr. Williams Greg, the Manager in one of our bank branch Standard Chartered Bank London I discovered existing dormant account belonging to Mr. Donald Fadel who died along with his wife Carole and their two children on a hijacked Boeing 767 that plunged into the Atlantic killing all 214
people on board including my client Mr. Donald Fadel and his entire family.(http://www.independent.co.uk/news/us-stunned-by-latest-air-crash-1120123.html)
I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since you are at an advantage to claim this fund so that the proceeds of this Bank Account valued at 18.3Million US Dollars will be paid to you the moment I summit your banking details to the bank. As a Branch Manager I will use my position to secure all the required documents that will enable you stand as the NEXT OF KIN to the deceased I will send you full details how the transaction will be executed and also we shall both share the fund, 50% to me and 50% to you I don't want to be greedy since the money do not belong to me, I shall assemble all the necessary Legal Documents that will be used to back up our claim.
kindly send the followings to me:
Your Name;
Your Telephone Number;
I expect your urgent response with much anticipation!
Thanks and remain bless.
Mr. Williams Greg
+44 750 975 0912
Email secured by Check Point
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