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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- financehousenig@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "COMPENSATION HEAD OFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <financehousenig@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:46:58 +0200
Subject: Contact Mr. Wale Peter, with this Number: +234-802-529-6127 for your Bank Draft.
Dear Friend,
I am happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferred under the
cooperation of a new partner from South Africa.
Presently I'm in South Africa for investment projects with my own share of the total sum. Meanwhile, I
did not forget your past efforts and attempts you made in getting your winnings sent to your
delivery address, despite that it failed us somehow.
Now contact my secretary in Lagos Nigeria his name is (Mr.Wale Peters) Find below his contact
information.
Name: Mr. Wale Peters
E-mail: financehousenig@yahoo.com
Tele: +234 802 529 6127
Ask him to send you the total $500.000.00 (FOUR HUNDREND THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS) certified bank Check,
which I raised in your favor for your compensation for all the past efforts you have made in
receiving your winnings in this matter.
Remember that I had forwarded instruction to the secretary on your behalf to Receive
that money. So feel free to get in touch with him (Mr. Wale Peters) with all your details
without any delay.
1. Full Names:...................
2. Residential Address:..........
3. Phone Number:.................
4. Fax Number:...................
5. Occupation:...................
6. Sex: .........................
7. Age : ........................
8. Nationality: .................
9. Present Country: .............
Best regards,
JACK WILLIAMS
COMPENSATION HEAD OFFICER
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