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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:
- 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)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- simmonsbarbara809@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: SIMMONS BARBARA <ofnigeria89@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2022 13:12:32 +0100
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL(TREAT AS URGENT)
I am Barbara Simmons personal assistant to a deceased client of mine, who
shares the same last name as yours, who died as a result of a
heart-related
condition on March 20th 2001. His heart condition was due to the death of
all the members of his family in the Air France plane crash on the 1st June
2009
that fell into Atlantic Ocean.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_France_Flight_447
i am contacting you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my
client before it will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank
where this deposit valued at five million United States dollars ($5m usd
)is lodged. The bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin or
the Family Trustee or the funds will be confiscated.and i have nobody in
his family to contact since all members of his family died on the flight
My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin or Family Trustee and beneficiary of my late clients funds
with the bank, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of
this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually
agreed percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's
next-of-kin or family Trustee will be provided. All I require is your
honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of the law. I must use this opportunity to implore you to
exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily
confidential
I have the deposit certificate of the funds to back up our claims
whatever your decision is, while I await your prompt response. Please
contact me as soon as possible to indicate your interest. I would like you
to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible through this
email
(simmonsbarbara809@gmail.com) and treat it with absolute confidentiality
and sincerity. I look forward to your quick reply.
Regards
Barbara Simmons
simmonsbarbara809@gmail.com
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