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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Benard Sani" <recruit@t-online.de>
Reply-To: drbenardsani.nnpc@bsgcpk.com
Date: Thu, 01 Sep 2016 22:33:42 +0200
Subject: ~Awaiting Response~
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
NNPC Towers
Crude and contract award verification unit NNPC
Nigeria Lagos
I am Dr. Benard Sani Director of Crude and contract award verification unit with Nigeria National Petroleum cooperation {NNPC} We deliberately over invoiced the sum of Sixty Five million Three Hundred Thousand US dollars {65.3M) during contract and supply services by foreign contractors in our Unit.
My contacting you is base the facts that the original contractor has been fully paid. We want to use our position to present you as the real contractor whose bill is ready for payment in our unit now, so that this over invoice of 65.3m$ will be credited into the account you provide, then me and my Colleagues involve can come over to you for an investment plan arrangement.As public/Civil Servants we are not allowed by Law to run or have a foreign Account,hence why we are contacting you for help.
You have to provide us with your company full contact Or your full contact address, which will be file in as the executor of the completed project whose outstanding bill of 68m is ready for payment. You will have some % as we proceed with the transaction and as we complete the transaction as well.
Note that all legal documents covering this 65.3m will be processed in your favor legally.
No risk is attached with this transaction and kindly reply to: drbenardsani.nnpc@bsgcpk.com
Awaiting your Urgent response.
Dr. Benard Sani.
Email: drbenardsani.nnpc@bsgcpk.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
