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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:
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your payment is being processed" (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)
- "million united states 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)
- 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: CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA <cbn----cbng2@att.net>
Reply-To: chikaagunnacentralbankofnigeria@yahoo.it
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 21:18:24 -0800 (PST)
Subject: IMMEDIATE PAYMENT APPROVAL
Our Ref: FGN/CBN/NIG/09/19/202.
Attention: Sir/Madam
IMMEDIATE PAYMENT APPROVAL
>From the records of outstanding contractors/Beneficiaries due for payment with the federal Government of Nigeria, your name and details was received form your representative as one of the outstanding contractors/Beneficiary who has not received their payments.
I wish to inform you that your payment is being processed and will be released to you as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that our operational guidelines is for the debt reconciliation programmer that the federal Government has given this office the ORDER to approve the payment of US$10.M, (Ten Million United States Dollars only) For Such contractors/Beneficiaries. Please re-confirm to me the followings.
(1) Your full name and address.
(2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Company's name, position and address.
4) Age and marital status.
BEST REGARDS,
MR. CHIKA AGUNNA
Officer-in-Charge PHONE: +234-80-20564283
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Anti-fraud resources:
