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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:
- 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:
- "high court" (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.
- 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.
- project_54@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Joe Pullen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <joepullen1945@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 21:37:02 -0700
Subject: F Y I=
This is for your attention.
We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to the total sum of Fourteen million Six hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling in the intent of the deceased (names now withheld since this is our second letter to you). We contacted you because you bear the surname identity and therefore can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance since there is no written will.
Our legal services is to provide our private clients with a complete service. We are happy to prepare wills, set-up and administer Trusts,
carry out the administration of estates and prepare and administer powers of attorney. All the papers will be processed in your acceptance. In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you kindly forward your letter of acceptance your current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address to the email below to enable us file necessary documents at our High court probate division for the release of this sum of money.
Yours faithfully,
Joe Pullen.
project_54@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
