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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "godwin_emefiely@mail.mn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.GODWIN EMEFIELY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <godwin_emefiely@mail.mn>
Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:14:14 -0500
Subject: Re: ABOUT YOUR PAYMENT
The United Nations and representative of staffs have had several meetings and have concluded that scam victims, foreign contractors that have not received their contract sum due to various international laws etc. should be compensated with the sum of $500,000 U.S.D (Five hundred thousand United State Dollars Only). You have received this email because we found your email address in our list. Send the below information to Mr.GODWIN EMEFIELY of Zenth Bank for your immediate payment
(1)YOUR FULL NAME:-..
(2)YOUR CONTACT PHONE NUM(s):-..
(3)YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATION:-..
(4)YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS:-..
SEND ALL THE ABOVE TO Mr.GODWIN EMEFIELY at his email address: godwin_emefiely@mail.mn
Inform us when you have been paid your money.
Making the world a better place.
Mr. Ban Ki Moon
(U.N Secretary General)
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Anti-fraud resources:
