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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:
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found 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.
- 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.
- aart.barend@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Aart Barend" <djoko.nugroho@tamco.co.id>
Reply-To: aart.Barend@consultant.com
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2017 19:26:31 +0700
Subject: Urgent Financial Transaction Request!!
Sir/Madam
My names are Aart Barend a solicitor at law. I was the personal Attorney
to a client who shares the same last name with you and made a fixed
deposit of fund valued at USD12.5M with a Finance Company here in Europe
and unfortunately, He lost his life in the Syria Civil War.
He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents
related to the deposit still in my possession. Recently, the financial
company contacted me asking for the next of kin to the funds or funds may
be declared to the government as unclaimed.
Upon a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to
present you as the next of kin, so that my late client's funds will not be
confiscated by the Financial Regulatory authority.
You will be entitled to receive 50% of the fund. There is absolute zero
free risk and all legal documents will be put in place.
Kindly, get in touch with me by my e-mail (aart.Barend@consultant.com) or
telephone (+31 645 023 799) to enable us discuss further.
You should also send your telephone number so I can call you when
necessary. Please note that this requires utmost confidentiality and
sincerity.
Regards,
Aart Barend
Tel: +31 645 023 799
Email: aart.Barend@consultant.com
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