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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:
- 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)
- "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)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "BARR. BRIAN WALKMAN CAMBERS" <info@consultant.com>
Reply-To: brianwalkman07@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2018 05:24:46 +0545
Subject:
ATTORNEY BRIAN WALKMAN CAMBERS
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
NO, 49 CLIFF JHB ROAD
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Tel/Fax +27732852001.
Attn: Dear Sir/Madam.
I am Attorney Brain Walkman, an Attorney at Law In Republic of South Africa.
I have an urgent and very profitable business proposition for you and me.
Which I would like you to stand as the appointed heir to my deceased
client Who made fixed deposit valued at US$13.5Million Dollars Only in a
commercial Bank in South Africa? He died in 2007 with his family Members
without any registered next of kin and the funds now has an open
beneficiary mandate My proposition to you is to seek your consent to
present you as the Next of kin and beneficiary of my deceased client so
that the proceeds of this account valued at $13.5million can be paid to
you, so we can share the amount on a mutually agreed Percentage of 50% for
me 50% for you.All legal documents to back up your claim as the
deceased Next of Kin will be provided by me. All I require is your
honest Cooperation to enable us
see this transaction through. I guarantee you that this will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement That will protect you from any breach of
the law.
Upon the receipt of your reply we proceed.
Warmest Regards.
Barr. Caleb Boris Esq.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW & SOLICITORS.
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