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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:
- "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. )
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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: "Barr. Salisu Buhari" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <salisubuhari72@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 1980 00:10:40 +0100
Subject: URGENT
Dear Sir,
I am here to inform you that your payment $1.5 M USD has been approved via ATM Card. You are going to receive atm card and pin code will be included in the package
All you need to do is to send
(1)Your Full Name: _______________
(2)Current complete Home Address: ___________
(3)Mobile and fixed Phone Number: ______________
(4)Fax Number: __________________________
(5)Name of your Nearest Airport: _______________________
(6)A Copy of Your ID for Identification: _____________________
Note, $85 being cost of longistics/ courier delivery fee of your ATM Card to your address.
Send it through money gramm on the name of
NAME: MR EBOH CHRISTIAN
ADDRESS: 21 MARINA STREET, LAGOS NIGERIA
It will arrive your address within 48hours of despatch.
Best Regards,
Barr. Salisu Buhari
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Anti-fraud resources:
