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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:
- "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. )
- "huge deposit" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: james Asiegbu <asiegbu001@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 20:45:13 +0000
Subject: TREAT AS VALID URGENT ATTENTION
I am james Asiegbu Rsa. I write to let you know that there was a Client Whose Family / last name is same with yours died leaving behind an estate / capital (USD$6.5M). I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged. where the deceased had an account valued at about (USD$6.5M) which the bank now unquestionably expects it to be claimed by any available foreign next-of-kin of the Late beneficiary within the next ten official working days.
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceeds
of this account valued at (USD$6.5M) can be paid to you, I have all necessary legal
documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest
cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law
Faithfully
Barrister James Asiegbu
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Anti-fraud resources:
