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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister Mohammed Issa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <barrmohissa@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:18:28 +0100
Subject: MUBARAK JUNE 2011
Dear Sir,
I am Barrister Mohammed Issa, a legal attorney to Gamal Al Din Mohammed Hosni Sayed Mubarak the second son to President of Egypt President Hosni Mubarak, I need to know if I can entrust you with a matter of great importance that will be of mutual benefits to both of us, if you feel I can trust you concerning what I am about to disclose to you.
kindly do get back to me as soon as possible because I need to have this issue resolved as soon as possible so that I do not loose all that I have saved some where safe before the government confiscate everything as the are already planning to do.
Many thanks in advance as I look forward to our partnership and trust. I will appreciate a response from you regarding my mail to you along with your information.
Best Regards
Barrister Mohammed Issa
Legal Attorney: Gamal Al Din Mohammed Hosni Sayed Mubarak
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Anti-fraud resources:
