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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "mrsanusilamido2001@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- bankofamerica.paymentoffice@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: From Bank Of America <bankofamerica.paymentoffice@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:23:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attn: Beneficiary,
1890 Epps Bridge Pkwy, Athens, GA 30606
Email Address: bankofamerica.paymentoffice@yahoo.com
Bank Office Telephone 4046471752
NOTIFICATION OF CREDIT FROM BANK OF AMERICA.
Attn: Beneficiary,
Call bank of America through this number 4046471752 there is good news regarding the transferring of your fund from the central bank of Nigeria because we had a meeting with the entire bank including the central bank of Nigeria governor Mr. Sansui so go ahead and contact him for your immediate transfer. The real contact
Contact information
Email: mrsanusilamido2001@live.com
Telephone: +234-8020515528
Contact the bank immediately you receive this email and get back to me because the bank of America want to make sure that all the beneficiary receive there fund without any wasting time
Regards
Yours in Service,
Telephone: 4046471752
Mr.Ben S. Bernanke
A/C officer B O A Georgia Branch.
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Anti-fraud resources: