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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- johnclarkradcliffechambers@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "John Clark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnclarkradcliffechambers@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2010 08:43:34 -0800
Subject: Dearest One.
From the Desk Of:
Barrister John Clark
Radcliffe Chambers
11 New Square
Lincoln's Inn
London WC2A 3QB
DX: 319 London
Email:johnclarkradcliffechambers@gmail.com
Dearest One.
I hope that my proposal will not affect your believes or religion; I have contacted you because you share the same last name with my client who I represent.
I represented a client who passed on due a heart-related condition and I believe with your assistance and for the reason that you share the same last name with my client, we can receive the investments/deposits of my deceased client ($15,500,000.00 USD) which he left in the Natwest bank London before his death.
All I need from you is honesty from your side and to keep all transaction secret until we achieve this aim which will definitely change our life’s for good.If you agree to work with me, I have all the proves and documents that I will present to the bank to enable them transfer the money into your account with out any problem or risk.
I will offer you 40% of the total money and we will set 5% for the expenses incurred in the course of this transaction while 55% will be for me.
If you agree for my proposition, you can write me a reply mail and indicate your interest then I will give you further guideline on how we will go about this transaction which will not take more than 14 working days to get the money transferred into your account from the Natwest Bank. Send me the following information so that we can proceed.
Your Full:Name
Age:
Occupation:
Mobile Number:
Full Address:
I await your urgent response and corporation.
Sincerely
Barrister John Clark.
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