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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "monica.owen@information4u.com" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Mark David Owen Esq." (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 14:03:31 +0100
Subject: Your urgent respond will decide
MONICA & OWEN ASSOCIATE
Notary Public & Solicitor
Children & Families Law Firm
CALLE GUZMÁN EL BUENO Nº 44
28003 MADRID - SPAIN
OUR REF: M.O.A/XX/42-00636:
Date: 06/02/2012
NOTIFICATION OF CLAIM
I write as a solicitor in respect of my client who died mysteriously in Japan earthquake triggers tsunami, click here to view the news: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/03/massive_earthquake_hits_japan.html and is yet to be proven as your relative.
As the sole executor of his WILL, it is his wish that I notify you the following.
1. That my client wrote a WILL in favor of his relative before the earthquake.
2. That the said man according to my record has a deposit sum of 29.4m Euros in his bank account.
3. And that I am willing to assist you make this claim with all the necessary legal backup and due process.
4. But that you will have to forward to me as a matter of fact your personal data and any form of identification for proper verification.
According to the WILL policy you are now advised to forward us the below for confirmation and commerce the process of your claim:
(1) FULL NAME
(2) FULL ADDRESS
(3) SEX
(4) AGE
(5) COMPANY
(6) OCCUPATION:
(7) TEL/FAX
(8) COUNTRY
(9) BIRTH CERTIFICATE
(10) PASSPORT OR OTHER
(11) BANK DETAILS (IF POSSIBLE)
I anticipate your maximum cooperation.
Note: Due to poor internet connectivity in my position, you may receive this email in your SPAM folder, kindly forward this letter into your INBOX folder before responding back to me. I am indeed glad to be in contact with you even though this medium of communication (internet) has been grossly abused by criminal minded people making it difficult for people with genuine project to correspond and exchange views without scepticism.
Yours sincerely,
MR. Mark David Owen Esq.
TEL: +34 632 525 572
Email: monica.owen@information4u.com
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