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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barrjay_mchenry@admin.in.th" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mellisa Lewis" <info@mellisa.com>
Reply-To: barrjay_mchenry@admin.in.th
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 01:00:40 -0400
Subject: Competent Partner Needed
Hello,
Good day to You. My name is Mrs. Mellisa Lewis . I am 59 years old
and I was diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago. I will be going in
for an operation later today.I decided to WILL/donate the sum of
(Fourteen Millions Two Hundred Fifty Eight Thousand United States
Dollars) to you for the good work of the lord.
Contact my lawyer with this email:
Name: Barrister Jay Mchenry
Email: barrjay_mchenry@admin.in.th
Tell him that I have WILLED 14.258M to you by quoting my personal
reference number LLP/953/900//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. My friend please do not send me any email as you
are to send my barrister an email directly.
God Bless
Regards,
Mrs. Mellisa Lewis.
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Anti-fraud resources:
