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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "million dollars" (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 next of kin scam.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447053831894 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- globalsecuritycompany.gsc.uk@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Global Security Company" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <globalsecuritycompany.gsc.uk@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2015 15:04:29 -0400
Subject: Re: URGENT RESPONSE
Dear Sir/Ma,
Sequel to your non response of our earlier letter to you on behalf of
the Trustees and Executors of the Estate of our late client We wish to
notify you that you have been subscribed as the beneficiary to the
total sum of $50,000.000.00 USD (Fifty million Dollars) representing
the pecuniary estate of the said deceased.
He died on 9th January 2011 at the age of 68.He was buried on the 3rd
of February. We reckoned that you can receive this fund; as you are
qualified via your name identity. All the legal papers will be
processed upon your response.
In your acceptance of this deal, we request that you kindly forward
any proof of identity of yours, your current telephone and fax numbers
and forwarding address to enable us file necessary documents at
Probate Registry.
Congratulations!
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Stephen Johnson.
Director Of Deposit.
Global Security Company.
Company Tel: Tel: +447053831894
Company Email: globalsecuritycompany.gsc.uk@gmail.com
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