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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "death certificate" (this phrase is often used in inheritance scams such as next of kin or https://419scam.org/419-murdered-businessman.htm">orphan scams. )
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Thomas Kalu <johnoeze1960@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ThomasKaluj955@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2017 16:19:42 +0300
Subject: OK
FROM THE DESK OF: DIRECTOR CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU
Federal Republic Of Nigeria
41 Moloney Street, Ebute Metta,
Lagos- Nigeria
Attn Mrs. Jane Chigiyal
I am the New Director CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU In-charge of foreign
debts Compensation contract Payment Unit of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria as Approved by the Newly Elected Presidency Federal Republic
Of Nigeria. By virtue of our establishment and through our
international monitory devices, we received complaints from foreigners
that they has been battling for long to received their funds from
either CBN, World Bank or IMF but all to No avail till date.
On this regard, payment of US$10.5 Million has been approved to be
paid to you but we have Mrs. Gwendolyn Simm presenting herself with a
death certificate to our office as your NEXT OF KIN to receive the
US$10.5 Million on your behalf as she reported to us that you are dead
as a result of auto crash. You are therefore required to confirm to us
in reply to this mail if Mrs. Gwendolyn Simm is your true
representative in case if you are alive otherwise your silent might be
assume as being dead since the dead cannot speak.
Awaiting for your timely response if you are alive and healthy.
Signed
Hon. Thomas Kalu
(Direct Phone No; +234-8112960793)
DIRECTOR CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU
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