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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:
- "million british pounds" (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)
- 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.
- southerlandleewood@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Leewood Sutherland." <mrtony4reallb@gmail.com>
Reply-To: leesouth344445@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:41:05 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY.
--
I am Leewood Sutherland. A deceased client of mine, who shares the
same last name as yours, died as a result of a heart-related condition
on March 20th 2010. His heart condition was due to the death of all
the members of his family in the Air France plane crash on the 1st
June 2009 that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_France_Flight_447
I am contacting you to assist in distributing the money left behind by
my client before it will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by
the bank where this deposit valued at nineteen million British Pounds
(£19million GBP) is lodged. This bank has issued a notice to contact
the next of kin or the account will be confiscated.
My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and beneficiary of my client's name, since you have the
same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to
you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon
percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's
next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation
to enable us to see this transaction through.
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law. I must use this opportunity to implore
you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter
extraordinarily confidential whatever your decision is, while I await
your prompt response. Please contact me as soon as possible to
indicate your interest. I would like you to acknowledge the receipt of
this e-mail as soon as possible through this email
southerlandleewood@gmail.com and treat it with absolute
confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to your quick reply.
Regards
Leewood Sutherland.
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