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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand u.s 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)
- "abuja" (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.
- 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.
- alhajirafiusambo@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "ALHAJI RAFIU SAMBO" <alhajirafiusambo@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2012 02:25:06 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: RE: OFFER
DEAR SIR/MA.
WE WRITE YOU THIS LETTER WHICH I PRAY SHOULD BE URGENTLY REPLIED.
I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING MY FOREIGN YEARS OF SERVICE.
I, ALH. RAFIU SAMBO PRESENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE IN THE
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE HEADQUARTERS , ABUJA NIGERIA
I AM IN NEED OF YOUR GENUINE ASSISTANT AND TRUST BECAUSE AS A TOP
OFFICIAL OF THE RULING GOVERNMENT, I WANT TO SAFE GUARD MY INTEREST
IN YOUR COUNTRY BEFORE THE END OF THE TENURE OF THIS ADMINISTRATION,
MORE ALSO WE AS CIVIL SERVANT ARE FORBIDDEN TO OWN OR OPERATE A
FOREIGN ACCOUNT HENCE A FOREIGNER IS NEEDED.
I PRESENTLY HAVE AN OVER INVOICED CONTRACT PAYMENT OF
USD58.5M(FIFTY-EIGHT MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS) WHICH
HAS REMAIN UNCLAIMED SINCE 2008 MY SUPERIOR IN THIS MINISTRY HAVE
MANDATED ME TO PRESENT A HONEST FOREIGNER WHO CAN CONVENIENTLY
PROTECT THIS FUND FOR US IN HIS BANK ACCOUNT IN HIS COUNTRY. I
SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN BE OF GREAT ASSISTANCE TO US. THIS IS
WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU AND ALSO REQUESTING FOR YOUR
DISCRETION,MATURITY AND CO-OPERATION.
MY SUPERIORS HAS COMPLETED ALL ADMINISTRATIVE STEPS TO SEE THAT THIS
FUND RECEIVES ALL THE REQUESTED APPROVALS IMMEDIATELY YOU GIVE ME THE
GO AHEAD.
ALL I NEED FROM YOU ARE THE FOLLOWING.
(1)YOUR FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS.
(2)YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER
(3) NAME AND FULL ADDRESS OF YOUR NOMINATED BANK WITH TELEPHONE AND FAX
NUMBERS
(4) YOUR PRIVATE TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR EASY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN US.
I SHALL SEND YOU BY FAX OR MAIL DETAIL OF THE CONTRACT EXECUTED SOON
AFTER I RECEIVE YOUR MESSAGE. YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO 40% FROM THE
TOTAL FUNDS IMMEDIATELY WE ARRIVE YOUR COUNTRY FOR SHARING. 10% WILL
COVER ALL MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES WE SHALL DO BOTH HERE AND IN YOUR
COUNTRY.
PLEASE ENDEAVOR TO REACH ME FOR MORE DETAILS.
I SINCERELY COUNT ON YOUR ASSISTANCE.REMEMBER I AM A HIGHLY PLACED
OFFICIAL AND EXPECT ABSOLUTE DISCRETION FROM YOU IN OTHER TO PROTECT
OUR HONOUR FROM FOREIGN JOURNALIST WHO SEEK TO DESTROY MEMBERS OF OUR
RULING CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT THIS TRANSACTION IS HITCH-FREE, SO YOU NEED
NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEAR AT ALL. I EXPECT YOUR REPLY IMMEDIATELY.
BEST REGARDS
ALH. RAFIU SAMBO
Email: alhajirafiusambo@yahoo.com
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