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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "account opening" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "FROM MRS.PACKETT PHILIP" (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 2 May 2010 22:03:33 -0700
Subject: RE:TRANSFER OF $5.5 MILLION 30/04/2010 !!!
Good Day,
I was instructed to inform you on the latest development concerning your fund.
This fund supposed to be in your position by now but according to the information we gathered from the Formal Minister of Finance he said that you did not come through the front door to claim your fund but through the back door by dealing with some Africans and Europeans impostors that is why he did not contact or said anything to you in regards to your payment.
For your information note that after our resolution meeting with the new Minister of Finance this 2nd quarter 2010 and with our New acting President we have agreed to pay off your fund with
sixteen others people that follow the same way you went through that their name are in our data base as does that we receive their fund.
Therefore note that information has been passed to the Fin Bank Plc to transfer your entire fund to you including the interest via online banking.
At this moment be advice to Contact your paying officer for account opening through the below information so that you can easily access your account balance and make transfer to any other bank account of your choice, any where in the world, from your personal computer, right there in the comfort of your home or office
Contact person: Mr. Victor Zuma
Address: Fin Bank Nigeria plc
E-mail: customercare@fi.nbnigeria.com
Phone: +2348070872055
Endeavor to email him the following information for immediate processing,
Full Names:
Address:
Age:
Country:
Phone no:
Yours Sincerely
Mrs.Packett Philip.
Authorization Minister
Federal Republic Of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
