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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "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: "Benson Eke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <benson.eke@onet.pl>
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2017 22:00:15 +0100
Subject: CAN YOU WORK WITH ME?
Attn:Sir
I humbly write to propose this confidential transaction that will benefit both of us. I want to bring to your notice that FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF
NIGERIA in conjunction with UNITED NATIONS has resolved to pay each victim of scam $1,500,000 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars only).
Sequel to that I seek your consent so that i will put your name as one of the victims that will benefit from this refund payment for our mutual benefits.
Please do reconfirm your willingness to work with me in actualizing this funds for our mutual benefits. Note very important, that the funds for the
settlement is intact in our bank right now. For better understanding i want you to know that the process has nothing to do with illegality
because i have perfected plans for the smooth transfer of the fund to you if you accept to work with me.
Thanks and urgently waiting your response.
Regards,
Benson Eke
Remittance Director.
Central Bank Of Nigeria.
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Anti-fraud resources:
