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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.
- 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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- jdesmond014@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. James Entwistle" <fdew@gutrewwaq.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <jdesmond014@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2016 17:14:12 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY
>From Office of USA Ambassador to Nigeria
Plot 1075 diplomatic drive
Central district
Area, Abuja
Dear Sir/Ma,
My name is ambassador James F. Entwistle the present USA ambassador to Nigeria. This is to inform you that after an official meeting held with the president of Nigeria president Buhari concerning unpaid and unclaimed funds to foreign beneficiaries, I was very much annoyed when I found out from your file that you have paid so much money yet you have not still receive your compensation funds for that reason I have personally decided to help get a bank draft of US$10,000,000.00 (Ten Million United State Dollars only) which the ministry of finance has sign on your name. The bank check shall be deliver to you through the United States Diplomatic mission.
In view of the above, you are to send me your bellow information for the delivery of your fund by next week as soon as I got your response. required information are bellow.
1. Your full name
2. Cell phone number
3. Address where you want us to send the package
The cost of registering is just $130 as paid by others who just received their funds presently. The fee must be paid in the next 72 hours via western union or money gram so that all necessary arrangement can be made before time will be against us. you are to contact my secretary DESMOND JOEL for the registration of the check:
Contact name: DESMOND JOEL
Address: Lagos Nigeria
Contact email: jdesmond014@yahoo.com
Please contact my secretary with his information stated and send him the $130 for the registration of the check before next week to enable us dispatch your package to you immediately. You can go through my website and read my biography: (http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/biography.html)
Note: as soon as you send the $130 I will instruct my secretary to dispatch your package with immediate effect to your address to hand over the check to you for deposit to your bank account there.
Yours Sincerely Ambassador
James F. Entwistle
USA Ambassador to Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
