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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- adamsagbaje6@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Adams Agbaje <adamsagbaje6@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: adamsagbaje2007@msn.com
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:07:30 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT REPLY
I have a new email address!You can now email me at: adamsagbaje6@yahoo.com
- Dear Sir/Madam, I am Mr. Adams Agbaje,I work in the packaging and courier dept of the Central Bank of Nigeria, I want you to help me clear this package that is already in Europe which I shipped through our accredited courier agent but the contents of the package is $26M. All in $100.00 bills, but the courier company does not know that it is money that I have in the package. kindly reply immediatelly with the underlisted details: 1. Name and address 2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers. 3. Age and occupation. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details. Thanks & God Bless You. Regards, Mr. Adams Agbaje
Anti-fraud resources: