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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.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Stella Obi <fmanr.dadasuleman@gmail.com>
Reply-To: stella_obii1982@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2015 05:00:46 -0800
Subject: URGENT FROM OFFICE OF PAYMASTER GENERAL MRS STELLA
Dear Sir.
PLEASE CLARIFY THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE
PAYMASTER GENERAL WITH THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN CONTRACTORS
SETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT AND DEBT PAYMENT MATTERS FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
NIGERIA FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY COMPLEX W USE 11 ABUJA
(1). Did you at any point transfer your right of ownership to one MR.
THOMAS G. HENDERSON, to claim and receive the payment on your behalf?
(2). His claim was backed with a "Deed of Agreement "in his favor
thereby indicating the fund destination to the following account.
Account name: THOMAS G. HENDERSON, Account No: 01028732 Bank Name:
BANK OF SCOTLAND, Swift Code: BOFSGB2S are you aware of this?
You are required as a matter of urgency to confirm the legitimacy of
the above claim and the reason for such change. In event you did not
authorize such claim, please confirm to us immediately
We awaits your urgent response
Regards
Chief Mrs Stella Obi
Direct Line; 2347090904776
Paymaster General ( Senate Committee Foreign Contract Department )
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Anti-fraud resources:
