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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:
- "executive governor" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "CONTRACT FUND AWARD JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY MINNA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <judicialcommissionnigerstate@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 20 May 2010 13:38:58 -0700
Subject: STRICTLY FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Niger State Government
20th May,2010
Find attached along with this brief note and do as required therein for the immediate Approval of the Contract File in which your name appeared as its Payment beneficiary by the Executive Governor of Niger State for the release of the Contract sum to you having completed the first phase of the verification process of outstanding contract files by this Commission.
In anticipation
Dr. Abdullahi M. Suleman
Secretary Niger State May 29, 1997 and May 29, 2008
Contract Award Judicial Commission of Inquiry
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Anti-fraud resources:
