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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:
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- 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: "HANNANEH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ghohestan@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:38:28 +0800
Subject: Re: SALAM
Thank you for responding to my message this time.I wonder why you did not get my first email.This might come to you as a surprise as it is not the best means to communicate with you on this issue but i have no other choice.
I am Hannaneh 21years old Iranian.I got your contact from my Late father diary and telephone/Contact directory and decided to contact you for this help after doing my Tahajjud(Night Prayers)asking Almighty Allah SWT for direction on this matter.My fathers name is Mr G.Seyedhemed he was a Nuclear Scientist and have traveled a lot for foreign works and may have met you in one of his trips.
My parents died in the January 2011 plane crash in Iran that killed more than 80 people including my parents http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-kc1RyGU0U when they were coming from Tehran where they went to make final arrangement for our relocation.
Before this time there have been series of killings of Iranian Nuclear Scientist and he wanted us to move to another country to settle there and sold some of his properties and withdrew his whole money amounting to $4.5m and deposited in a security firm on June 21st 2010 and he also made a passport for me on 15th July 2010 in preparation for our relocation abroad before the accident in Jan 2011.After my fathers death my Uncles scrambled for all that was left behind here in Iran and stopped me from going to school because they wanted me to marry my father friend and i refused so the beat me and seized my phones stopped me from going to school and don't allow me to see anyone or go out.
Sir I am contacting you to help me stand as next of Kin/Beneficiary to claim this deposit as i have the document with me.He made this deposit as Family treasure so no one will know what is inside.I will prepare a Power of Attorney/Change of Ownership in your name as the next of Kin/Beneficiary. I don't want my uncle to know about this as they will beat me and also used the money for themselves.That is why i am contacting you.They have already spent all my father left here and used to marry more wives.This is completely legal and risk free.
Now i need you to send me your details as follows
Name:
Address:
Age:
Occupation:
Telephone No:
I am willing to give 20% to any charity of your choice then 50% for me and 30% for you.
To Be Charitable In Public Is Good, But To Give Alms In Private Is Better—It Will Atone For Some Of Your Sins. Allah Has Knowledge Of What You Do.
(Surah 2: Ayah 271)
May Allah bless you continually.
Respectfully,
Hannaneh
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Anti-fraud resources:
