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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)
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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: "DR GODWIN EMEFIELE" <unita@neobee.net>
Reply-To: godwinemefielecbngovernor@centralbnk-nig.net
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2017 05:36:16 -0800
Subject: ATTN BENEFICIARY
FROM THE DESK OF CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR
DATE. 8TH OF DECEMBER 2017
ATTN BENEFICIARY
I AM DR GODWIN EMEFIELE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA GOVERNOR. THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED ME THE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR OF NIGERIA TO PAY ALL THE FOREIGN CONTRACTORS AND ALL THE INHERITANCE BENEFICIARY AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS OWING WITH A MAP OUT FUND OF $600M. WE HAVE MORE THAN THREE WEEKS REMAINING FOR THE YEAR TO END SO I WILL LIKE YOU TO RECEIVE YOUR MONEY BEFORE 31ST OF DECEMBER. YOU HERE BY TO FURNISH ME WITH THE WRIGHT INFORMATION THAT PROOF THAT YOU ARE THE WRIGHT BENEFICIARY. YOU CAN REACH ME THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS godwinemefielecbngovernor@centralbnk-nig.net
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2 HOW MUCH NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT IS OWING
3 YOUR ID CARD
YOURS IN SERVICE
DR GODWIN EMEFIELE
CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR
EMAIL.godwinemefielecbngovernor@centralbnk-nig.net
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Anti-fraud resources:
