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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- evakubuike@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: evelyn@almawakeb.sch.ae
Reply-To: mldksy0@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2016 01:12:11 -0500
Subject: We seek your mercy.
Dear Sir/Madam,
May the peace of God and good Health dwell in your LIFE. I seek your mercy upon my children, my husband was the former Minister of Agriculture, he died during official trials against his wealth under the instruction of the current President. I will attest with the last drop of my blood that "President Muhammadu Buhari" is the most wicked man that ever existed on Earth, he confiscated my husbands accounts and authorized his arrest simply because of political enmity.
Ever since the dead of my husband, my family are feeding from hand to mouth because our achievements was totally confiscated by the most wicked "President Muhammadu Buhari" and we have nobody to help because my late husband was the breadwinner not only in my family but the community at large. I seek your utmost kindness to quickly clear my late husband security deposit in Europe, which is my only hope for the future of my family else suicide will be the next solution. I will forward you the necessary documents to receive the security deposit as my late husbands foreign business partner.
My family hope to relocate upon your receipt of the security deposit because presently we are left with nothing under official surveillance and we shall smoothly relocate with your invitation as a family friemd immediately you confirm the fund. May the peace of God continue to dwell in your Life as i look forward to your mercy upon my little children and myself.
Mrs. Evelyn Akubuike
Telephone: 902.035.1248
Email: evakubuike@yahoo.com
eAkubuike@greenmail.net
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Anti-fraud resources:
