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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million 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.
- 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.
- wongjinfirm@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Wong Jin <jin.wong@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: Wong Jin <wong.jin@rediffmail.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:49:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: confidential message
WONG JIN NEE & TEO ADVOCATE & SOLICITORS
13A-5 Level 13A
Menara Milenium
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Email: wongjinfirm@rediffmail.com
Private Number:(+601)03600195
I am WONG JIN NEE, Attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, that shares the
same last name as yours, who died as the result of a heart-related condition in
March 12th 2005. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of
his family in the tsunami disaster on the 26th December 2004 in Sumatra
Indonesia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earth quake
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my
client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this
deposit valued at nine million dollars (US$9million dollars) is lodged.
This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will
be confiscated.I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon
as possible via my private EMAIL:(wongjinfirm@rediffmail.com) and treat with
absolute confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to your quick reply.
Best regards,
WONG JIN NEE
Attorney At Law.
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