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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:
- "million pounds" (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)
- "terrygrant@secretarias.com" (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.
- 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.
- +447024023909 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Terry Grant" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <terrygrant@secretarias.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:06:57 +0100
Subject: Trust
Hello and good day !!
My Name is Terry Grant and I am banker.I am in a privilege position to make both of us benefit/share the sum of 15.5 Million Pounds from a prime UK-based bank where I am a staff.I need a very trustworthy, sincere and reliable foreign partner like you to collaborate with me.Be assured that due process shall be followed to procure legal documents to back up this
transaction.The total sum of 15.5 million pounds will be processed and be transfered from an account belonging to a deceased customer.He had died with his entire immediate family,including his next-of-kin,in a plane crash on the New York bound AIR FRANCE concord plane crash.For more information and pictorial details regarding the crash please visit :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating any other relatives up to this moment, I am contacting you to assist and collaborate with me in repatriating all the money left behind by the very rich late property magnate.I have reasoned very professionally and I feel it will be legally possible to use my position to manipulate the system in order to make you to be recognised as the beneficiary.This is achievable only if you allow me to present you (as the next-of-kin to the deceased) to the management of the branch of bank.I will take this act
upon myself so that the proceeds of the account can be processed in your name and subsequently be paid to you.Trust me, as the account officer to the deceased I hereby assure you that all modalities have been properly worked out and I propose we share the proceeds in the ratio of 60% to me and 40% to you.
All I require from you to commence the immediate process are just the following info : (1)Your Full names (2) Contact address (3) Phone & fax numbers and (4) your profile. Respond to me via my personal email address:
Awaiting your response to enable me give you more details & procedures.
Very Sincerely
Terry Grant
London,United Kingdom WZR 4RS
Tel : + (44)70 24023909
Email : terrygrant@secretarias.com
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