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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- westafricafinancehouse@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Alfred Afulum <westafricafinancehouse@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2015 16:03:51 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ARE YOU DEAD OR ALIVE?:
WEST AFRICA FINANCE HOUSE
10 Commercial Avenue
Accra - Republic of Ghana
Emaill:westafricafinancehouse@yahoo.com
Email:westafricfinhs@outlook.com
Tel/Fax:+233 24 5881785
Open hours :: Monday to Friday: 7h30 Ã 13h00 - 14h00 Ã 16h30
Ref:WA/10039/VOL7/15Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Â
From:Alfred Afulum
INSTRUCTION TO RELEASE YOUR OVER DUE PAYMENT.
Attention;Dear Valued Customer.
A power of attorney was forwarded to our office this morning by two gentle men,one of them is an American national and he is Mr.Mort Golden by name,while the other person is Mr.Gibson L. Juan by name a CANADIAN national.
This gentlemen who claimed to be your Your Brother/next of kin and representative and this power of attorney stated that you are dead.They brought an account to replace your information in other to claim some Digit/Part of your fund of $7.8 Million USD,which is right now lying DORMANT and UNCLAIMED.
Â
NOTE:IF THERE IS ANY CHANGE IN YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,LET US KNOW IMMEDIATELY.
Your immediate respond is urgently needed.
Thanking you for your patience.
Â
Regards
Â
Alfred Afulum
Executive Director Foreign Payment Department
West Africa Finance House
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Anti-fraud resources:
