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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.
- lawmekconsult@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: LawMEK Chambers & Associate <info@kajiplanning.xsrv.jp>
Reply-To: lawmekconsult@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 25 May 2022 11:31:50 +0100
Subject: info important
MY BUSINESS PROPOSAL
I would like to discuss this business with you and it has nothing to do
with someone in my country. Believe me it is only you that is outside
West Africa can handle this deal. I only got your contact details from
when I was searching for a friend Information On-Line Service on my
personal programmed search on the internet for an individual to assist
with sincerely & confidentially your information & profiles were very
satisfactory; so I decided to contact you immediately. It is my great
pleasure to write you this letter and the email address below is my
private email as we need to keep this transaction highly confidential.
My name is Barrister Laurent Mekuoawa, a friend to a foreigner who
contracted covid-19 virus and after a while passed away on the 23rd of
June 2020. I want to tell you that my late friend and client deposited
the sum of US$8.7Million in a Bank for a project before his death, on my
finding I discovered that he passed away without any registered next of
kin. So I am writing my proposal to stand you as his next of kin so that
the funds will be released to you. It is a pure deal transaction and
risk free between me and you, I have original copies of vital documents
to these deposited funds which my late client handed over to me for
safekeeping before his death. I will prepare an application letter with
your name being the next of kin and for the release of the funds to you
in any of your accounts overseas and not here in my country Republic of
Togolaise because these funds are made to be transferred out of my
Country.
I have made my sincere propose and should you be willing/interested to
assist in this transaction your share as compensation will be (40%) I
will then get (40%) while we mape out (10%) for covid-19 suport
programmes then (5%) for Charity Organisations and the remaining (5%)
for taxation and miscellaneous expenses incurred during the transfer
process. The business is completely safe and secure; I have reposed my
confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me. Your urgent
response needed.
Please kindly contact me back on my private email :
lawmekconsult@gmail.com
Thanks
Barrister Laurent Mekuoawa
E-mail: laurentmekuoawa@zoho.com
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