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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:
- "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.
- 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: "luck" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <goodluckpresident87@yahoo.it>
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 17:29:07 +0100
Subject: FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
ASO ROCK ABUJA NIGERIA
This is to notify you that we are now at the final quarter of the year 2014. I President. Dr. Goodluck E. Jonathan president and commander in chief of armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has unanimously approved all outstanding foreign debts owed to contractors, contract inheritance payments, lottery winners and beneficiaries who were scammed by Nigerian 419 artists/perpetrators in one way or the order.
Finally, if you need more assurance on this payment, don't hesitate to call me on my direct phone number: +234 812-983-5979 for more proof.
God bless you and your family.
His Excellency
Dr. Jonathan E. Goodluck, the President
Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
