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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- 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.
- +447031979775 (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.
- edwardjohnson371@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "johnson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwardjohnson371@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2016 11:36:34 +0100
Subject: Dear Sir/Madam
>From The Desk of: Edward Johnson
Audit/Account Department
LLOYDS BANK OF UNITED KINGDOM (LBUK)
Email” edwardjohnson371@gmail.com
Tel:+ 447031979775
Dear Sir/Madam ,
My name is Edward Johnson, I am the personal account officer to late Mr. Clement Fisher, who was a Mining-Exploration-Investment Consultants here in united kingdom. Mr. Clement Fisher died last two years when he went to South Africa for a mining consultant and he was among the people that die as a result of Mining collapse in South Africa on the July three year ago. His fund is still here in our bank and he did not included his next of kin when he deposited the money in our bank branch.
I decided to contact you because you I have searched for the next of kin but proved abortive and also I contact you because you have the same surname with late Mr. Clement Fisher but although it does not matter if your surname is different from Mr. Fisher. I want you to stand as the next of kin to late Mr. Clement Fisher so that we can transfer the fund for our own use since he has no body to claim the fund.. Being his account manager I have all it takes to transfer his fund to anywhere we want. We can transfer the fund through bank to bank process or through a diplomat whichever way you want.
You will send your full name and address, Your telephone number and your personal identification.
If you are interested, send your reply through the above email address or call me on the above telephone number
Thanks and Remain Bless.
Edward Johnson
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