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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:
- "barrister" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- barristerhayes@terra.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Martin H Marvin <WWW.@wine.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mr Martin H Marvin <contactmee@mynet.com>
Date: Mon, 9 May 2016 00:41:08 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I need your answer please
Dear,
I have a client who died alongside his wife and daughter in a car crash. Since 2010, I’ve received several letters from his Bank asking me to locate any of his relations who will come and claim the funds since his next of kin who is the wife also died. In their most recent letter they said that if nobody comes to claim the money soon, they will confiscate it in line with the banking policy. All my efforts to locate his relations have been unsuccessful.
The above reason is why I am contacting you to work with me to claim this money . I will present you as his cousin and will take every legal step to make this project a success. I decided that we will share the money when we secures it, may be investing jointly if you wish.
Please this matter is urgent so get back to me as soon as you read this mail so I will give you more details about this.
You can send your response to : barristerhayes@terra.com
Cordially,
Martin H. Marvin
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Anti-fraud resources: