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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- 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.
- info.shammahchambers@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- +229 61 05 68 72 fax: +229 20 30 325 email: info.shammahchambers@gmail.com email: hanslawoffice@yahoo.fr (Gmail, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Jacques Hans" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hanslawoffice@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2017 14:00:01 +0100
Subject: Re: Re; Your Payment Notice. V
Good Day My Dear,
Complement of the season!!!
I write to inform you that my client who may be your friend or a close relative has WILLED properties worth $2.8Million to you here in Republic of Benin and have ask me to legalise the change of ownership to your name before her death. As her lawyer, I have been expecting you to make contact to me since she didn't have any relation before I decided to contact you today as I don't know if you are aware of it or not so that the security company will not confiscate it.
So write back immediately or call me +229 61 05 68 72 for more details.
Thank you and have a nice day.
Barrister Jacques Hans(Esq)
SHAMMAH CHAMBER & ASSOCIATE
C/727, Minoten, Cotonou, Benin
Tel: +229 61 05 68 72 Fax: +229 20 30 325
Email: info.shammahchambers@gmail.com
Email: hanslawoffice@yahoo.fr
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Anti-fraud resources:
