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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:
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- 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: Klein Lang Albert Esq <kleinlangalbert@1643.com>
Reply-To: kleinalbert.esq4law@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 12:12:47 -0500
Subject: Hello
Legal profession includes holding documents, funds and investments on
trust for clients. Following the tsunami disaster of 26th December
2004 in Sumatra Indonesia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake and with
reference to a recent fax response sent to me by my late client bank
demanding for a next of kin for the sum of: (US$1.800,000.00). I
humbly request your co-operation in an effort to legally transfer
these funds out by merging of the surnames. Since his death I have
been monitoring his account but all effort to contact a next of kin
has been unsuccessful.
I will merge the surnames legally and do every thing to obtain all
documents that may be required by the bank to put you in the position
of the next of kin to enable the payout of the funds to you on trust
between you and me without any arising disadvantage. I will offer 40%
of the total sum to you for your cooperation and you can immediately
deduct this offer immediately the funds have been credited to you.
This is a thing of the mind and trust, please treat as confidential. I
will provide further in-debt to you immediately I receive your response.
I look forward to read from you as soon as possible.
Best regards,
Klein Lang Albert Esq
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