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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:
- ",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)
- "barrister" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "BARR.JERRY SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jerrysmithchember@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:21:21 -0800
Subject: Notification of Bequest in Your Name
Notification of Bequest in Your Name
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the Estate of Late Scott Kennedy, I hereby attempt to reach you again. I wish to notify you that late Scott Kennedy made you a beneficiary to his will. He left the sum of thirty one Million five Hundred Thousand Dollars.($31,500,000.00 ) to you in the codicil and last testament to his will. This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.
Late Scott Kennedy until his death was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time, Late Scott Kennedy died at the age of 71 years. According to him this money is to support your activities and to help the poor and the needy. Please you must fill the information below for more directives
1. FULL NAME:==========================
2. TELEPHONE NUMBER:==================
3. AGE:================================
4. CONTACT ADDRESS:====================
5. OCCUPATION:=========================
6. COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION:==========
Yours In Service,
Barrister Jerry Smith
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Anti-fraud resources:
