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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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. Philip Munglik" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <munglikphilip@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:58:23 +0800
Subject: I am eager to work this out with you
Dear,
I got your email from the online data base in my determination to locate a family member of an account owner. I am a senior legal consultant with Fernandez & Selvarajah and advisor to a popular commercial bank which i will not mention now until i have your support. I write you with all honest desire to help in assisting me repatriate the sum of $6.2M United States dollars deposited in 2010 by Mr. Henry Bill, who worked as consultant with ABC PETROLEUM LIBYA. He is late. He died in August 24th 2011 from the statistic i have of him. Since then my bank have assigned me to get to his family which i have tried but could not locate. More worrisome is the fact that he did not enlist any of his family members as beneficiary. I have this month to submitte my findings and i don't want to disclose i was not able to locate his beneficiary or family member.
I therefore will like you to work with me and i will process papers showing you are the beneficiary of the deposited fund and it will be paid to you within 3 working days. I want you to accept this offer without any fear as i am in the position to disclose who the right beneficiary is to my bank. If you accept write me back and i will tell you what we will do to accomplish this.
Though i write you hoping we can work together on this. However if you are not capable please do let me know so i look for alternatives as i do not have much time on this.
If you are capabale send me your full names,age and job status,residential and direct phone number.I need these details for processing the necessary legal documents
Until i hear from you.
Barrister. Philip Munglik
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