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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "hollisgreyalwfirm@zing.vn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Nor Soleha binti Sulong" <norsoleha@kkmm.gov.my>
Reply-To: hollisgreyalwfirm@zing.vn
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2013 02:35:20 +0800
Subject: My Third And Final Mail of Your Inheritance.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to notify you that late Gianni Agnelli WILL made you a beneficiary of his Will.
He left the sum of sixty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars to you in the Codicil
and last testament to his Will. This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, you are
advised to contact HOLLIS LAWFIRM Chambers via our personal email
address:hollisgreyalwfirm@zing.vn
Regards,
Hollis Grey Chambers.
--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.
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Anti-fraud resources:
