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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:
- "abuja" (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.
- 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.
- ecowas.danieljohnsonjr@googlemail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR DANIEL JOHNSON JR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <danialecowas1@googlemail.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:50:40 -0700
Subject: CONFIRM AND RESPOND IMMEDIATELY
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES{ECOWAS12)
{OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY}
ABUJA-NIGERIA.
ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY
RE: CONFIRMATION OF YOUR PAYMENT OF USD9.6MILLION
Be informed that after our crucial meeting today with the the Presidency, we write to inform you that your payment has been approved for immediate release through our Foreign Credit Commission into your account.
Our Foreign Credit Commission in Europe will release your payment within 72 ho urs of your accreditation.
You are advised to get back to me urgently with your Telephone and your full name and address for more briefing.
Hope to hear from you soon through my direct email address ecowas.danieljohnsonjr@googlemail.com
Yours faithfully.
Mr Daniel Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources: