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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:
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: 'BARTELS LAW'<bartelslaw@Un.org>
Reply-To: bartelslawfirm@yandex.com
Date: 20 Aug 2022 12:34:11 +0000
Subject: WARNING LATE EDWARD'S ESTATE ,xxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
Hello xxx@xxxxxxx.xxx,
Re:Case No 6118
I am contacting you because you share the same last name with a
deceased client of mine who died with his family a few years
ago.He left behind a lot of bank deposits with no will to mention
a next of kin.
As his recognized attorney, his bank has issued me a notice to
provide his next-of-kin within a short time.Kindly get back to me
ASAP as I want to know if you are in anyway related to my late
client so that your entitlement can be processed and paid to you.
I am trying to get this money released to you before the
government declares it unclaimed and sent into government
coffers.Awaiting your response so that I can start work with
getting your rightful entitlement to you..
Best regards,
Bar.Anthony Bartels
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Anti-fraud resources:
