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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "tonyedecbn@ozu.es" (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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "SENATE PAYMENT VILIFICATION COMMITTEE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsanitie@vf.vc>
Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2012 13:36:26 +0100
Subject: ATTN; FUND BENEFICIARY, 80
FROM THE DESK OF THE CHAIRPERSON
SENATE PAYMENT VILIFICATION
COMMITTEE MRS ANITIE OKORIE {SENATOR}
SENATE HOUSE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
REF: SENT/PABN/COMT/NG90/2012
ATTN; FUND BENEFICIARY,
This is to inform you that the Nigerian Government have approved the sum
{NINE HUNDRED MILLION U.S DOLLARS} corroboration with WORLD BANK
To pay all foreign contractor /inheritance and lottery wining fund to those who has not received their payment Please kindly forward your contact details to payee bank which is Central Bank Of Nigeria which is the only bank that will carry on the payment to your account
Your Full Name............
Telephone and Fax Numbers..............
Your Home or Office Address...................
Your Age & Occupation.....................................
Your sex and copy of your Id
the contact person in charge of the payment is DR TONY EDE Telex director Central Bank of Nigeria contact phone +2348 01631 0420 email : tonyedecbn@ozu.es please note you will have to proof to them the legal document that Qualified you as one of the fund owning beneficiary by the Nigerian Government
MRS ANITIE OKORIE {SENATOR}
CHAIRPERSON SENATE PAYMENT VILIFICATION COMMITTEE
SENATE HOUSE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
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