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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)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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: "RT.REVEREND JAMES UKAEGBU." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revjamesukaegbu2013@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2013 07:01:13 +0700
Subject: RECONFIRM IF DEAD OR ALIVE !!!
FROM THE DESK OF
RT.REVEREND JAMES UKAEGBU.
ACCOUNT RECONCILIATION OFFICER TO
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON DEBT SETTLEMENT.
# 21 SAKA-TINUBU WAY,VICTORIA-ISLAND
LAGOS,NIGERIA.
ATTENTION:
MAY THE PEACE OF THE GOOD LORD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY.
I AM RT. REVEREND JAMES UKAEGBU.THE NEWLY APPOINTED ACCOUNT RECONCILIATION OFFICER TO THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON DEBT SETTLEMENT.I WAS APPOINTED TO FOR SEE THE PAYMENT OF ALL OUTSTANDING DEBTS OWED TO FOREIGN CONTRACTORS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF MY COUNTRY NIGERIA, AND INHERITANCE FUND BENEFICIARY'S WHO PRESENTLY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR INHERITED FUNDS.
SO I HAVE ONLY CONTACTED YOU TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR PAYMENT OR ARE YOU AMONG THOSE THAT HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR PAYMENT.PLEASE YOUR IMMEDIATE CONFIRMATION IS NEEDED.BUT IN A SITUATION WHEREBY YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR PAYMENT,YOU ARE TO FORWARD THE FOLLOWING DETAILS BELOW FOR URGENT VERIFICATION AND PROCESSING OF YOUR PAYMENT,
1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.YOUR HOME OR OFFICE CONTACT ADDRESS
3.YOUR CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER
4.YOUR OCCUPATION
5.YOUR DATE OF BIRTH
6.SCANNED COPY OF YOUR ID.
YOUR URGENT RESPONSE AND COMPLIANCE IS NEEDED FOR THE VERIFICATION AND PROCESSING OF YOUR PAYMENT .
GOD BLESS YOU.
FAITHFULLY,
RT.REVEREND JAMES UKAEGBU.
ACCOUNT RECONCILIATION OFFICER TO
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON DEBT SETTLEMENT.
DL:+234 80 8206 9277
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Anti-fraud resources:
