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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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447045776872 (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.
- zafiranpascal.syria@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Zafiran Pascal" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <zafiranpascal.syria@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2015 01:51:56 -0700
Subject: From Mrs. Zafiran Pascal (13)
Dear Friend,
My Name is Mrs. Zafiran Pascal, from Syria. I am married to Mr.Pascal Williams,A gold merchant who owns a small gold Mine in Burkina Faso. He died of Cardiovascular Disease before the uprising in Syria began in mid-March 2011. During his life time he deposited the sum of Seven million two hundred thousand dollars in a bank in London England.
At the time of his illness, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and presently i am partially suffering from a stroke illness which has become almost impossible for me to move around. My doctor confided in me that i have less chance to live. Having known my health condition, I decided to contact you to claim the fund and act as an executor of the estate since none of my husband’s relation or mine are alive. They were killed during the war in my country Syria.
The success of processing and transferring the funds to a secure account requires an individual who can stand as my next of kin to claim the funds. I cannot transfer the funds directly to a charity organization without selecting an executor or next of kin to claim it. You will take forty (40%) Percent of the total money and sixty (60%) percent will go to charity and the orphanage homes. If this money remain unclaimed after my death, the bank executives or the government will take the money as unclaimed fund and maybe Use it for selfish and worthless ventures. I will give you details on how to transfer the fund if you accept the offer.
Mrs. Zafiran Pascal.
Please reply to my private E-MAIL ADDRESS : zafiranpascal.syria@yahoo.com
Rolando C.B
Cell +447045776872
zafiranpascal.syria@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
