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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (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 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.
- mrgarrymart@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR GARRY MARTI <willden224@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrgarrymart@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2015 13:47:02 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS NEXT OF KIN.......
Dear Friend,
Thank you so much for your email. What I need from you is honesty and
the assurance that the money will be save when the bank transfer it to
your account. When the bank approve the fund in your name and favor,
you as the next of kin will discuss with the bank how you want your
fund to be transferred. If you want your fund to be transfer once or
twice. As the next of kin you can provide any account in the world
where you will like the fund to be transferred.
When the bank confirms receipt of the claim application the actual
processing of the claim will commence. The bank will ask you to
provide documentation to confirm that you are the authorized
beneficiary of the payment. We will provide this through attorneys
that we will retain.
Immediately this is submitted to the bank, recommendation for approval
will be given immediately as the information contained in the claim
documents will tally with what they have in their files. Have it in
mind that this transaction is 100% risk free.
Always keep this transaction confidential to your self at all time
till the money gets into your bank account.You have to believe in me
have trust in me and work with my instruction at all time then the sky
is our beginning. You don't need to show your lawyer? Because of the
confidentiality of this transaction.
Send to me your full name your full telephone and house address, also
copy of your ID which will enable us proceed with this transaction and
obtain the needed documents from the high court,which will cover you
as the next of kin. Please reply me with your private email address
for the confidentiality of this transaction.
I do expect your prompt response.
Thank you,
MR GARRY MARTI
mrgarrymart@yahoo.com
GOOD NEWS NEXT OF KIN.......
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