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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- josemiguel.abogados@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- by responding via my direct private email: josemiguel.abogados@gmail.com i hope to hearing from you soonest. your sincerely jose (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: JOSE MIGUEL Esq <legaldocumentos@gmail.com>
Reply-To: josemiguel.abogados@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2015 12:45:08 +0200
Subject: re urgent
Dear friend,
I making this request in good faith believing you will reciprocate my
gesture. My name is JOSE MIGUEL (ABOGADO), a lawyer based in Spain. I am a
Personal Attorney to Late Engr. Philips who was a wealthy Petrol-chemical
engineer before his death in 2006. I am confiding in you in an urgent
matter that relates to a deposit made by this particular client of mine
before he died. I am seeking for your consent to authorize his bank to
remit the sum of $11.8Million deposited in a bank to you as his heir . The
intended transaction will be executed under legitimate legal manner that
will protect you from any breach of law. I will use my position as the
clients attorney to guarantee the successful execution of this transaction.
All I require is your understanding and honest cooperation to enable us
achieves this enormous goal. I will give you comprehensive details of this
transaction when you indicate you interest. Note that you will keep fifty
per cent of the proceed for your effort. I want to assure you that there is
no risk involve . Please treat this matter as very urgent by responding via
my direct private email:
josemiguel.abogados@gmail.com I hope to hearing from you soonest.
Your Sincerely
JOSE MIGUEL Esq.
Abogados Defensores Y Los Profesionales Del Derecho
Notario Público, Representantes Legales
Y CompañÃa, Consultores Inmobiliarios
Email:josemiguel.abogados@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
