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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:
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- noahsmithxx22@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barr. Tom Davidson" <noahsmithxx22@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2015 12:47:18 +0300
Subject: Potential Partner
Dear Potential Partner,
I am Barr. Tom Davidson. I practice law here in the UK, kindly permit me to use your name to apply as the next of kin to my late client who died without a will and have no next of kin or relative introduced to me before his sudden death SINCE YOU BEAR SAME LAST NAME WITH HIM, this mail may come to you as a surprise but if you will partner with me we stand to shear $6.5m in days. I wait o read from you. If you want to partner with me kindly contact me with this very email id for more details Email: noahsmithxx22@gmail.com
Regards,
Barr. Tom Davidson
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Anti-fraud resources:
