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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:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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" <mildredcombs11@gmail.com>
Reply-To: centralbankofnigeria00157@aol.com
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2022 00:52:40 +0100
Subject: ATTN BENEFICIARY
--
Dear Beneficiary,
My name is Mr. Godwin Emefiele the Executive Governor Of The Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Executive Chairman of "E.C.D.R".I
discovered that your
name and email address (in the Central Computer among the list of
unpaid contractors, inheritance next of kin and lotto beneficiaries
that was originated
from Africa (Nigerian Government) Europe, Asia Plus Middle
east,Americans) among the list of individuals and companies that your
unpaid fund has been located to a suspense account.
Your name appeared among the beneficiaries who will receive a
part-payment of $5 million and has been approved already for Payment.
yesterday two foreigners (Mr. Tim Parker and Mr. Rowland Gulf) visited
my office in your stead to inform me that they are your
Representatives from United State, whom you send to collecting your
Funds for you.
Here are the Document which they tender to this Bank today:
1. LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION.
2. HIGH COURT INJUNCTION.
3. ORDER TO RELEASE.
Whatsapp Number:+2349020325823
OFFICIALLY SIGNED.
MR. GODWIN EMEFIELE
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Anti-fraud resources:
