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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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- engrjimohbabagida@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Engr. Jimoh Babagida" <engrjimohbabagida@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:22:20 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: GOOD DAY.
Dear Friend,
I am the Special Adviser on Petroleum/Crude Oil Allocation to the Late
Musa 'Yar Dua the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, before his
death the President has instructed me to allocate an Oil Block Allocation
to the tune Of $85M to a private account which was deposited in a blank
beneficiary Account name omitted, any foreign name can be presented to the
paying banks for the payment which will be accepted by the bank, provided
the person must not be a Nigeria citizen.
We intend to use this money for real estate business in the United State
of America or any profitable business you may wish to advice us upon.
If you are interested kindly indicate your interest via my private email
address (engrjimohbabagida@gmail.com)
Thanks,
Engr. Jimoh Babagida.
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Anti-fraud resources:
