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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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "From Rev Deji Ayorinde" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <email123418@yahoo.it>
Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 12:38:23 +0100
Subject: Re-Notice From Rev Deji
Re-Notice From Chairman Foreign Payment Coordinator (FPC)
Dear Sir/Madam.
Be reliably informed that your e-mail ID has been selected among twenty five list which their (USD)$8.500.000.00 has been approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria in alliance with the Federal Ministry of Finance on payment reconciliation for disbursement into nominated bank account on or before Saturday. So we advice you to update us with your current receiving bank account, and wait for the transfer details through our registered official E-mail for payment security purpose to avoid internet scam artist. Be as fast as possible.
Alternatively, get the following Information's across to us while your USD)$8.500.000.00 will be Programmed Into An Automated Teller Machine via (ATM CARD) Powered By MasterCard And it Will Be Mailed To Your Address By Courier Service. You can make withdrawal of money from any International ATM MACHINE location center of your choice in any part of the world.
1. Your Required Name To Be Printed On Your Atm Card:
2. Your Present Resident Mailing Address (not P.o Box):
3. Your Personal And Reachable Phone Number:
4. Your Occupation:………………………………………………
5. Your Age:…………………………………………………………
6. Your Identification:………………………………………………
7. Sex:
8. Married or Single?------------------
Kindest regard,
Rev Deji Ayorinde.
Chairman Foreign Payment Coordinator (FPC)
Federal Republic of Nigeria .
Eagle House, 38/39 Marina, Lagos.
Tel:/Fax: +234-1-8423-717.
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Anti-fraud resources:
