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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:
- "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
- "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: FABIAN LAW FIRM <eltonfabian.associate@gmail.com>
Reply-To: eltonfabian@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 11:25:00 +0100
Subject: Where are you?Get back to me Urgently
Dear Sir,
I am a U.K based attorney. My late client Edward (last name
withheld)died with his wife and only son in a New York bound Air
American Airlines Flight 587 crash.
I have been in charge of managing his properties here in London for a
long time. There where some of his properties put out for sale before
his death,for which payment has since been made. The proceeds of the
sale is deposited into his local account here. As his recognized
attorney, his bank has issued me a notice to provide his next-of-kin
within a short time.
I am contacting you because you bare the same last-name with my late client.
Please get back to me ASAP.I want to know if you are in anyway related
to my late client.
Regards,
Barrister Elton Fabian
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Anti-fraud resources:
