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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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: Office Of The President Of Nigeria <drgoodluckeejonathan14@msn.com>
Reply-To: <dr.goodluckjonathan11@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 13:54:59 +0000
Subject: PAYMENT ORDER!!!
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIAFrom:"The Honorable Office of the Presidency"And Debt Reconciliation Payment Report andImmediate Fund Remittance.Address: Aso - Rock Villa "PresidentialGuest House, Wusa Zone II Abuja -Nigeria.Email: dr.goodluckejonathan11@gmail.comTEL: +234-80257-104-03. Our Ref: FGN/PRE/VP/XNX/2012 ATTN: BENEFICIARY:PAYMENT ORDER!!!I WAS SURPRISED THAT YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR FUND UP TILL TODAY.I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR FUND WILL BE TRANSFER TODAY INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT WITHIN 72 HOURS. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, I BELIEVE YOUR PAYMENT WILL BE CONCLUDED TODAY IMMEDIATELY I HEAR FROM YOU AND YOU ARE ADVISE TO RECONFIRM YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER IMMEDIATELY. BASED ON MY INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE WASTED A LOT OF MONEY IN REGARDS TO THIS TRANSFER. I AM ADVISING YOU TO STOP ANY COMMUNICATION WITH ANY PERSON UNTIL YOU RECEIVE THIS FUND FROM MY OFFICE TODAY. TO AVOID WRONG TRANSFER, RE-CONFIRM YOUR BANKING INFORMATION.THIS OFFICE IS GIVEN YOU 100% GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR FUND WITHIN 72 HOURS AS SOON AS YOU COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO YOU. CONGRATULATION IN ADVANCE ONCE MORE.REMEMBER THIS TRANSFER IS CONFIDENTIAL, DUE TO A LOT OF IMPERSONATORS, I WANT US TO USE A CODE WHICH IS WHAT IS THE CODE AND ANSWER IS IN GOD WE TRUST. NOTE:YOU ARE ALSO ADVISE TO SEND TO US ALL INFORMATION OF ANY PERSON YOU HAVE SENT MONEY SO THAT WE CAN RECOVER THE MONEY AND SEND IT BACK TO YOU. YOU NEED TO CALL ON :TEL: +234-80257-104-03. TO CONFIRM. REGARDS DR.GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHANPRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIAEmail: dr.goodluckejonathan11@gmail.comTEL: +234-80257-104-03.
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