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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "PAYMASTER GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <okelewilliams@ovi.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:30:02 +0300
Subject: YOUR ATM CARD IS READY
FROM THE DESK OF DR
OKELE WILLIAMS PAYMASTER GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
TEL 234 8033231142
Attn:The Owner of this E-mail id,
Your Name And Your Contact Details Was Given To This Office In Respect Of Your Total inherited/Compensation/contract payment
Sum Owed To You Which You Have Failed To Claim Because Of Either Non-Compliance Of Official Processes Or Because Of Your Unbelief Of The Reality Of Your Genuine Payment.
We Wish To Bring To You The Solution To This Problem. Right Now We Have Arranged Your Payment Through Our Swift Card Payment Centers, That Is The Latest Instruction From Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)
This ZENITH ATM VISA payment Center Will Send To You An ATM VISA CARD Which You Will Use To Withdraw Your Money In Any ATM Machine In Any Part Of The World, So If You Like To Receive Your Fund In This Way, Please Let Us Know By Contacting Us Back on the following information:
CONTACT:EMAIL okelewilliams@ovi.com
PHONE NUMBER: +2348033231142
And Also Send The Following Information As Listed Below.
1. Full Name
2. Phone And Fax Number
3. Delivery address
4.ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION/ If any available
5 your nearest airport
THANKS
DR OKELE WILLIAMS
PAYMASTER GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
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Anti-fraud resources:
