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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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "GERALD ROBERTS" <postmaster@globetelecom.com.au>
Reply-To: geraldroberts113@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2017 17:23:55 -0700
Subject: CONTACT ME ASAP
Attention :, My name is Gerald Roberts and I am here in the United States O=
f America as an FBI delegate that has been delegated to investigate this fr=
audsters who are in the business of swindling the citizens of our great nat=
ion America an citizens of other part of the world.During my investigation =
it was found that the office of the Central Bank Of Nigeria has been used t=
o perpetrate most of this scam and as a result the Nigeria Government has d=
ecided to compensate victims of fraud. At this point I am contacting you to=
let you know that the total sum of $800,000 has been assigned as compensat=
ed amount in your favor as a victim of such fraud carried out in Nigeria.In=
other to proceed on this note you are expected to provide this office with=
the details specified below and also state the transfer option of choice y=
ou prefer among the transfer options specified below. Full Name: Address: P=
hone Number: Bank Name: The transfer options are specified below. 1)Through=
Bank to Bank wire transfer. 2)Through ATM card to be shipped to you throug=
h the courier service. 3)As a Bank Draft/Check to be delivered to you also =
through the courier service. I shall expect your response as soon as you re=
ceive this email. FBI Agent, Gerald Roberts.
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Anti-fraud resources:
