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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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "David Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kenneth_emeh000001@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2014 07:24:51 -0400
Subject: Good News For You
Permit me to introduce myself I'm David Smith a private investigator based in Africa. I have a peculiar case in which I require your assistance.
I was contracted earlier this year by one of my clients to find someone, somewhat like a missing person. I shall explain but you must understand that I can only give you limited details at this time.
My client is a lawyer; he was employed by one Mr. David Prescott a Canadian contractor resident here, as legal counsel to help retrieve a large sum of money in millions of dollars owed him by the government. Mr. Prescott however died in a car accident before the money was retrieved. The money having been retrieved is lying in the bank with no one to claim it, as Mr. Prescott has no known next of kin here or in Canada.
The problem now is that my client needs to find a relative of Mr. Prescott to claim the money so that he (my client) can be paid for his legal services.
I was contracted to find Mr. Prescott's next of kin. I have tried all avenues without luck hence my contacting you. I need you to help me find this person. You shall be handsomely paid for your services if the person is found.
The person must however provide adequate proof of being related to Mr. Prescott no matter how remote. This proof is to be in form of a driver's license or international passport bearing the name Prescott or (nee Prescott).
The person's name shall be registered in court as next of kin and will then be allowed to administer the account. You shall however be paid for your service as soon the person is successfully registered.
Here is all I know about Mr. Prescott. (Please under no circumstance should you show this information to any possible next of kin)
Mr. Clive D Prescott
Date of birth 1st Oct 1943
Place of birth Halifax Canada
Died 14th Nov 2001
Please respond immediately to let me know if you agree to these terms.
Thank you for your anticipated co-operation.
I await to hear from you soon.
David Smith.
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