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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Emmanuel Olamide" <kusifelix8@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info16@iname.com
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2023 02:13:16 +0100
Subject:
My name is Mr. Emmanuel Olamide, my wife's name is Elizabeth and my
son is Precious, my daughter is Jane, we are from Ikeja Lagos Nigeria.
I am a government contractor. I was given a project that was supposed
to change my life for the better but there is an issue. I need your
assistance.
The Nigeria government gave me a contract of a road construction
worth $50 million dollars, The minister of infrastructure and some
other top government officials collated $28.5 million before awarding
the contract to me, and now they want me to execute the project with
just $11.5 million which is impossible. I collected $11.5 million for
the road construction. I made a way with the money to Ghana. I need
you to help me relocate my family to your country. I can't travel with
the $11.5 million. I also need your help to transfer the money to your
country. I want to invest the money in business when I get to your
country. I will also need your help to guide me in the business
investment. I am willing to give you 15% of the money if you are
willing to help me and my family. Please get back to me Asap.
Best Regards.
Mr. Emmanuel Olamide
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Anti-fraud resources:
