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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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "@lawyer.com" (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.
- barr.mchenry@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Mellisa Lewis" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barr.mchenry@lawyer.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2010 02:31:47 +0100
Subject: CONTACT MY ATTORNEY
Hello ,
My name is Mrs. Mellisa Lewis, I am 59 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago.Am sorry to contact you in this manner but please bear in
mind that i find your contact in international directories with World Health Organization.I will be going in for an operation later today.
I decided to WILL/DONATE the sum of $14,258,000.00 USD (Fourteen Million Two Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand United States Dollars) to you for the good work
of the Lord.Contact my lawyer with this email:
Name: Mr Jay Mchenry
Email: ( barr.mchenry@lawyer.com )
Tel: ( +233547305641)
Contact him and inform him about the WILLED 14.258M in your name by quoting my personal reference number JJ/MMS/953/5015/GWRL/316US/UK. As soon as you contact
him with this details quoted above, he should be able to recognize you and help in claiming this amount from my Bank. Be informed also that I have paid for the
state tax on this money to be transferred to you.
Meanwhile you are advised to keep this mail and it contents confidential as i really want my wish accomplish at the end of the day. Please do pray to God for my recovery.
God Bless you.
Regards,
Mrs. Mellisa Lewis
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Anti-fraud resources:
