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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: Paul Smith <paul.smiths01@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 May 2016 15:23:03 -0700
Subject: Next of Kin (Reply)
Dear Friend,
I am writing to solicit you as the next of Kin to move out of this
country into a foreign account for our mutual benefits the sum of 10.2
million dollars belonging to a dead client.
DR. GEORGE BRUMLEY who died in a plane crash with his entire family
living no one behind as his next of kin to claim this fund.
View this website for more understanding and get back to me if you are
interested with your phone numbers for me to give you more details of
the business.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html
My kind regards to you and your family,
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Paul Smith Esq
Estate Attorney
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Anti-fraud resources:
