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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:
- "diplomatic security company" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024097666 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- elizabeth.elizabethowen.owen@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Elizabeth Owen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <elizabeth.elizabethowen.owen@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 01:30:25 -0700
Subject: IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO YOUR PAYMENT/FUND RELEASE
FROM DESK: MRS. ELIZABETH OWEN
HSBC DIPLOMATIC SECURITY COMPANY
lONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Attn: The Beneficiary.
I want to know if you asked or instructed Mr. Martin G.Hawkins to claim your inheritance fund (S$6.2 Million) kindly get back to us immediately so that, i can stop the payment.
I want you to confirm this information immediately you receive this mail so that, we will not transfer your late relative/ partner 's fund (US$6.2 Million) to Mr. Martin G. Hawkins. As a matter of urgency get back to me so that, i will know if to stop thepayment or release the fund to Mr. Martin Hawkin. He is trying to pay all the charges for the release of the fund into his account BUT i need to confirm from you first before transferring the fund into his account this week. If you didn't instructed Mr. Martin G. Hawkins to claim your inheritance fund (S$6.2 Million) kindly get back to us immediately so that, we can stop the payment .
Below are Mr. Martin G. Hawkins account's information he summitted and his
driver's license card.
MetaBank Visa debit
Account # 70002939498788
Routing # 073972181
Account Name: Mr. Martin G. Hawkins
I'm waiting for your prompt response or call me on Telephone: 44 7024
097666 immediately you receive this mail very important.
Please every of your correspondence should be sent to my alternative mail box as: elizabeth.elizabethowen.owen@gmail.com
Best Regards,
Mrs. Elizabeth Owen
Telephone: 44 7024 097666
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Anti-fraud resources:
