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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:
- "obfaith@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: Michael Mbaki <mm_1mbaki@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: Michael Mbaki <obfaith@live.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 12:46:38 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Your Compensation
 Dear Good Friend ,
Good day.It has been a long time now the fund has been transferred with the help of an Asian investor. All you have to do is to Contact my Pastor in Republic of Benin and tell him to send you a VISA CARD of $250.000USD which I kept to reward you for your initial effort in then transaction.Right now I am busy in Vietnam where I am investing.So do not delay in contacting him so as he will send the money to you immediately as I instructed him.
Â
Below is the contact of my Pastor.
Â
Name: REV. KING LAMBO,
Email:Â obfaith@live.com
Tel: +229 98538312
Â
Reconfirm your recent addresses and telephone number to him in order to avoid delivery error.
Â
Regards
Michael Mbaki
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Anti-fraud resources:
