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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. USMAN SUDEEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drusmansudeen004@o2.pl>
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 22:53:27 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY PAYMENT,
THE PRESIDENCY FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
ASO ROCK VILLA, ASOKORO DISTRICT, ABUJA.
CONFIDENTIAL DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY PAYMENT
FROM THE OFFICE OF DR. USMAN SUDEEN.
Your attention,
IMMEDIATE CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION
We have received a payment credit instruction from the federal Government of Nigeria to credit your account with your full contract/inheritance funds from the Nigerian reserved account with our bank.
This is to notify you that your name is among the names of contractors/inheritors whom the Federal Government of Nigeria have been programmed for immediate release of their payment into your nominated bank account. We have two mode of payment. Transfer fund direct to nominated bank account or through Diplomatic Courier Services. Some of these payments were delayed due to a little problem we had with international monetary fund (IMF) to pay the foreign contractors/inheritors which have been resolved. Be informed now that every arrangement regarding your payment has been made.
For security reasons you are advised to follow the rules and regulation of the claim for easy payment and also to enable me process your payment without delay.
So you are advised to choose the mode of payment you like and provide the following information to enhance to process your claim.
Your full Name: -------------------------------------------------------------
Your complete Address: ----------------------------------------------------
Country: ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct Telephone Number: ---------------------------------------------------
Mobile Number: -------------------------------------------------------------
Occupation: ------------------------------ -----------------------------------
Your passport ......................... Your personal identity Card ................................
Your Age............................
Bank Account information: ---------------------------------------------------
I wait to hear from you
Thanks
Dr Usman
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Anti-fraud resources: