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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 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)
- "contract award committee" (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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- u.bello@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "USMAN BELLO" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <usmanbello59@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2014 11:04:56 -0400
Subject: Request For Assistance
Dear Sir,
Its a pleasure to contact you in regards to a contract dealings in my jurisdiction.let me introduce myself first to you. I am Usman Bello, The Director of contracts Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and It is my pleasure to write this mail basically to seek your consent on this transaction which involves transfer of an over-invoiced sum of money from my ministry NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) to your bank account for self keep.
The amount involved is United States $35 Million Dollars.As the Chairman of the Contract Award Committee (CAC) in my ministry , Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). This amount was intentionally over-invoiced for our benefit. We have worked carefully to secure the approval of the fund since the original contract value has been paid on completion of the contract in 2006. Then the remaining balance of the US$35 Million Dollars is what we intend to transfer secretly to you using your bank account details for you to keep pending when i will come over to your country with my partners for sharing.
Our sharing modalities will be 30% for you, 10% for expenses and 60% will be for me and my partners.
Waiting to hear from you.
Email: u.bello@hotmail.com
+234-8080060744
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With Regards.
Usman Bello
Chairman Contract Award Committee
NNPC.
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