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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- bar.javierpenas@mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "BARRISTER JAVIER PENAS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bar.javierpenas@mail.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:46:42 +0100
Subject: Beneficiary
My names are Barrister Javier Penas.I got your contact via the public records while searching
for a trusted person who will stand as next of kin to my late client estate, He deposited One Trunk
Box/Diplomatic Personal Treasure with a Safe Security Company here in Spain before he and his family
died in Tsunami catastrophe, which occurred in December 2004.As is personal attorney,the security company
has mandated me to present a member of his family(inheritor) to make Claims.After abortive search
for a direct family member which came to no avail,my suggestion to you is that I will like you to stand
as the next of kin.
Be kind to get back to me via my private email: bar.javierpenas@mail.com;for further clarification.
Regards
Javier PenasEsq}
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Anti-fraud resources:
