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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:
- "million united states 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- ddamate@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Attorney Dennis Damate" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ddamate@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2017 09:05:24 -0700
Subject: Vital Information
Good Day My Dear,
This message will be the last notification that I will send to you as my earlier letters sent to you through Post Office was returned undelivered. Hence I decided to reach you via email because this information needs urgent attention.
I'm contacting you because of my deceased client who died in 2014, and the management of the Bank has issued me a notice to provide an extended next of kin of the deceased who deposited a sum of US $25 Million (Twenty Five Million United States Dollars) or have the account confiscated within the next 31 banking days.
I am the personal attorney, and will be disappointed if the labor of my client is confiscated. Since you bear the same surname and may be an extended member of the family, i want you to kindly get back to me for verification process with the following information's for appraisal to my e-mail address to enable me compare pass it on to the board of directors of the Bank for approval on your behalf so we can receive this funds for our future benefits.
1. Your full names
2. Current address
3. Telephone and Fax numbers
4. Date of Birth.
5. Country of Origin
I wait for your response to enable me expedite every legal action to this effect. I will assist you in any possible way that i can to enable you receive the total sum deposited, with accumulated interest. I feel you will appreciate my effort giving you my kind assistance.
Yours sincerely.
Barrister Dennis Damate.
Email: ddamate@gmail.com
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