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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:
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- 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 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.
- barristertomchamber@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Tom Kirkman <lekan60@gmail.com>
Reply-To: barristertomchamber@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2018 22:36:06 +0100
Subject: URGENT...
I seek for your recognition to enable me prepare a letter of claim and
power of attorney indicating you as the next of kin
to my late client that has the same surname with you. I have tried to
locate any of his relative for the claim of Thirty one
Million Seven hundred Thousand United States Dollars( $31.7 Million)
deposited to a bank but all proves abortive. I have the
entire deposit requirement that was properly handed over to me which i will
submit to the bank for approval once i have your
consent.
Everything documentation concerning this transaction will be legally
attested to.
The quotient of sharing will be agreed between both of us.
Update me with the flowing details for confirmation.
1 Full name
2 Address
3 Telephone
4 Country
5 Year of birth.
I expect an immediate response to enable me expedite action in this
transaction.
(barristertomchamber@yahoo.com)
Thanks.
Tom Kirkman E S Q
Principal Attorney.
Tom Kirkman.
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Anti-fraud resources:
