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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:
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- 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 ABUJA <centralbankofnigeria_abuja@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 May 2012 13:10:12 +0000
Subject: ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE?
Dear,
I just got an information that you are dead. But i don't know how truth this is but you have to get back to me urgently if you are alive before your funds will be transfer to a wrong person.
Call me on my direct telephone number, 234-806-765-1429, if you are really alive otherwise you will miss this golden opportunity and your funds will be transfer to the people that came for the claim.
Attached is the picture of your funds. So go now and send the $80 so that we shall deliver your funds to your address as soon as possible.
Best Regards,
Rev, Patrick Terry.
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Anti-fraud resources:
