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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- r_agu@mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Richard Agu" <richagu5@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: r_agu02@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2008 15:33:44 -0700
Subject: REPLY IMMEDIATELY
DEAR FRIEND,
I AM BARRISTER RICHARD AGU, THE PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY TO ENGR TOM COMPOS. THE
DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE NIGERIAN PETROLEUM CORPORATION
BASED IN WARRI, DELTA STATE.
IN NOVEMBER 2002, MY CLIENT (ENGR COMPOS) RECEIVED GRATIFICATION OF FIFTEEN
MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS (USD15,500,000) FROM THE CONTRACT
AWARDED TO FOREIGN FIRMS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF (USD 250
MILLION) (LPG) GAS PLANT AT WARRI REFINERY.
HENCE, THE FUND IS UNDER THE CUSTODY OF A SECURITY COMPANY FOR SAFE KEEPING,
I HAVE BEEN MANDATED BY MY CLIENTS (ENGR. TOMSON COMPOS) TO SEEK ASSISTANCE
OF A TRUST WORTHY FOREIGN COMPANY OR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO COULD HELP TO PROVIDE
A BANK ACCOUNT FOR INVESTMENT WITHOUT HITCH.
HOWEVER, MY CLIENT HAS AGREED TO WILL 30% OF THE TOTAL SUM TO YOU WHILE IS
5% FOR EXPENSES. THEREFORE, IF THIS OFFER IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU, CONTACT ME
IMMEDIATELY THROUGH MY E-MAIL (r_agu@mail.com) FOR FURTHER BRIEFING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
BARRISTER RICHARD AGU. (SAN)
Anti-fraud resources: