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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "kradams_un@e-mail.ua" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Sid Dankwa Kwame" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kradams_un@e-mail.ua>
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:22:01 -0800
Subject: Urgent Information.
Attention Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that the Economic community of West Africa (Ecowas) and International Monitory Fund (IMF) has started releasing compensation fund of $1,000.000.00 USD (One million united state dollar) for Flood disasters ,Earthquake and scam Victims as mandated by the United Nation through our office.
We are contacting you because your name falls among the first category of the people to receive their compensation this month therefore you are requested to contact our payment director immediately with the followings:
Contact him with the following information
1. Full Name:
2. Residential Address:
3. Phone Number:
4. Fax Number:
5. Occupation:
6. Sex:
7. Age:
8. Nationality:
9. Country:
Contact our payment director on the address below for more advice and directives on how to receive your satisfy bank draft of $1,000.000.00 USD.(One million united state dollars.
MR .Robert Nana Adams
Email: (kradams_un@e-mail.ua)
We need your urgent response so that we shall release your compensation Fund payment to you without further delay.
Our pleasure to be of your service.
Sincerely,
Dr.Sid Dankwa Kwame
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Anti-fraud resources:
