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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "James Obinna" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <james.obinna14@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 09:10:57 -0700
Subject: INVESTMENT PROPOSAL.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Mr. James Obinna, writing to inform you of our desire to invest in your country on behalf of Hajiya Turai Umar Musa Yar'Adua the wife of former Late Nigerian President and former Katsina State Governor Umaru Yar'Adua.Considering her very strategic and influential position, she hopes that the transaction is strictly confidential as possible.
Also, want to disclose her identity at least for now, until the completion of the transaction.Hence our desire to have you as our agent abroad to protect and invest their funds in a profitable business.
I have therefore been directed to investigate whether you would agree to act as a foreign agent in order to update this transaction.If you can handle this offer.Kindly send your mobile telephone number to enhance our communications.
Regards.
Mr. James Obinna.
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Anti-fraud resources:
