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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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "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: Adaora Umeoji <barr.d9093937774jecob@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Umeojia@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2022 14:51:08 -0700
Subject: YOUR RESPONSE IS NEEDED TO THIS PROPOSAL
Hello
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your
inheritance file presently on my desk, and I found out that you have
not received your payment.
After the board meeting held at our headquarters, we have arranged
your payment through our SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER in Europe, America
and Asia Pacific, which is the instruction given by the Central Bank
of Nigeria.
We shall send you an ATM CARD valued Eight million three hundred
thousand dollars through DHL which you will use to withdraw your money
in an ATM MACHINE in any part of the world, and get back to us quickly
with full details on where to send your card to.
(1) Your Full Name:……
(2) Address where you want the DHL Courier Service to send your ATM CARD to….
(3) Phone And Fax Number:…
We shall be expecting to receive your information.
Ms.Adaora Umeoji.
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Anti-fraud resources:
