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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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: presidential villa ofice <oficepresidentialvilla@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: presidential villa ofice <ekeatte001@live.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2015 08:58:43 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: Your payment release
Nigerian Presidential Complex,
Aso Rock Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
                                                                          Â
                                               Â
Dear Friend,
I am Dr. Kenneth Ekeatte a senior adviser to Dr. Good luck Johnathan the
president and commander in chief of the Nigeria Arm forces, Going by series of petition received from International Body on the way your fund was handled by our correspondence office. After Extensive close door meeting with Board of Directors and other Stake holders in the Government, subcommittees of the National Assembly Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It was resolved and agreed by the Federal Executive Council that your contract/inheritance shall be released to you through a special means. please reconfirm your name,address and telephone number for claim.
Waiting for an urgent response.
Dr. Kenneth Ekeatte (+234 805 667 0122)
FOR: Dr. Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR).
President Federal Republic of Nigeria..
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Anti-fraud resources:
