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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 1996bpw@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "BARR . PETERSON WILLIAMS" <1996bpw@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:51:32 -0800
Subject: Tan ( Lets call it a deal )
Senior Advocate, International Legal Practitioner
Peterson chambers & Financial Attorney
plot 23/25 joint Victoria Island lagos-Nigeria
Email: 1996bpw@gmail.com
ATT: Tan
I am barrister peterson williams an attorney at law, my proposition to
you is to seek your consent, a deceased client of mine, Mr.Kenneth
Tan died as a
result of heart-related condition on March 12th 2008. His heart
condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the
tsunami disaster on the 26th December 2004 in Sumatra Indonesia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake.
I am contacting you to assist in distributing the money left behind by
my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
bank where this deposit valued at Ten million dollars(US$10million
dollars) is lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to contact the
next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.
I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as
possible via my private EMAIL -: 1996bpw@gmail.com and I will provide
you with more details of this transaction and how to proceed.
Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.we shall
share in the ratio of 60% for you, and 40% for me.
Best Regard
Peterson Williams
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