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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "SEN. AHMAD RUFAI SANI " <aahmadsanirufai@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 21:45:05 -0700
Subject: Most urgently.
Dear Sir, I feel compelled to write this mail to you however wishing that
you will give my request your utmost consideration. I wish to enquire to
know if there will be opportunity for me to transfer money and investment
in your country through your assistance. This is because I would like to
quit politics and relocate my family and business to your country for
safety due to the insurgency by Boko Haram in my country which recently
claims the life of my two children. Recently I lost two children in a bomb
blast in Abuja and my properties worth several millions of Dollars were
also destroyed. I considered your country security and economy better and
safer for settlement and investment. I look forward for your unflinching
support to this proposal.
Thanks in anticipation of your cooperation.
Yours truly,
SEN. AHMAD RUFAI SANI
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Anti-fraud resources:
