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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:
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Uche Egbe" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drucheebge@freeukisp.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:33:04 -0800
Subject: Attention:Beneficiary,
Attention:Beneficiary,
It was resolved after the Board meetings this January 2010 by the foreign
Remittance office of Economic & Finanacial Crime Commission (EFCC)office to
release your outstanding payment of $25m USD long awaing fund waiting for
transfer as we began this First Quater fiscal payment of the year commence
for the year 2010.
You are hereby advice to reconfirm to us all this information below for
your payment.
1)Your Full Name__________________________ _____________
2)Your Address_______________________ ______________________________
3)Your Age___________________________ _______________________
4)Your Direct Telephone Number________________________ ________________
5)Fax Number_none_______________________ _________________
6)Occupation____________________ __________________________
We sincerely apologies for our late contact with you, We are committed to
serve you better.
Yours in service
Mr.Uche Egbe (EFCC)Office Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
