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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "million united states 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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Richard Coleman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ma7766731@yahoo.cn>
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 04:40:54 +0100
Subject: From Sir Richard.
Hello,
I have written an earlier mail to you but no response. In my first
mail I mentioned to you about my late client who died without a will
of interstate but has some funds left with a renowned bank here in UK
before he died in April 2003. He bears the same surname with you.
Since his death I have received several letters from the Bank and UK
Unclaimed Assets where he deposited the fund before his death, to
provide his next of kin or any of his relatives who can make claim to
the funds before the end of the year or Bank will be left with no
option than to confiscate the consignment and turn the money back to
the state, as it has been marked unclaimed for years. I have
conducted my personal search to see if I can make contact with any of
his relatives but without success, it is in the course of my effort
that I have to contact you.
I have closely checked and since you bear the same surname with my
deceased client it will be better to present you as the next of kin
and the right beneficiary of the funds in the account. The total sum
left in the account is $15M (Fifteen Million United States Dollars) I
will provide you with all the necessary legal backing that is
required until this money is paid out to you, and then we shall share
it base on our agreement.
Do respond quick if you are interested or should you need further
clarification because we have no much time left.
Regards,
Richard Coleman
London United-Kingdom
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