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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:
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "mismariapeter@aol.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "mismariapeter@aol.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Maria Peters" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mismariapeter@aol.fr>
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 21:22:51 -0000
Subject: Confirmation letter.....
From Mrs. Peters Maria
Peters Chambers & Associates LLC.
Rue 17 Ecolé Francaise,
BP 698 Lomé, Republic of Togo,
Email: mismariapeter@aol.fr
Attention:Sir/Madam,
Private Message
I have emailed you earlier without a response. In my first email I mentioned about my late client whose relatives I cannot get in touch with. But both of you have the same last name so it will be very easy to make you become his official next of kin.
I am compelled to do this because I would not want the bank to push my client’s funds into the bank treasury as unclaimed inheritance of hung value.
If you are interested you do let me know so that I can give you Comprehensive details on what we are to do.
Reply here (mismariapeter@aol.fr)
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Peters Maria (ESQ.)
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Anti-fraud resources:
