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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- barrganifrns@yahoo.dk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister Gani Francis" <info@msn.com>
Reply-To: barrganifrns@yahoo.dk
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:02:50 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Urgent Response Needed
Dear Respected,
It is my pleasure to propose a business of a mutual benefit to you. My
name is Barrister Gani Francis from Banjul the Gambia. The sum of
US$2.9Million is the value. It is a deposited fund with FIBANK in my
country the Gambia. It was deposited by my late client Mr. Krieg Johnson
who is from your country. He was a tourist foreigner to my country before
his death that occurred 4 years ago. The fund will soon be reverting to
the benefit of the Fibank due to my inability as his lawyer to present to
the bank his next of kin for claim of the fund. All my attempts to locate
his next of kin are to no avail. I want you to understand that with my
position as his lawyer the fund will be release to anyone I presented to
the bank and I am contacting you for the fund claim which I will guide you
according until you receive the entire fund in your bank account and we
share 50% / 50% between you and I.
If you can keep this deal confidential we have a successful deal within
the next 7 banking days. Contact me with your information, Full Name,
Address and Phone Number to enable us proceed immediately. You can also
call my phone number +2207736678 for guidance. I await your reply as soon
as possible.
Best Regards,
Barrister Gani Francis.
Tel: +220 77 36 678.
E-mail: barrganifrns@yahoo.dk
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