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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "million us 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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- accdetailss@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Lamido Sansui" <sspears_2007@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: accdetailss@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:38:58 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE:CLAIMS REQUIREMENT
Attn: Beneficiary,
I am Dr. Lamido Sansui the new governor of central bank of Nigeria I am here to settle foreign debts/fraud victims/Un-paid beneficiaries You are being contacted because your File is on our Settlement Files Cabinet. From our intelligent investigations and Probing processes we discovered that you are a victim of fraud/funds delay.I want to inform you that your funds will be transferred to you as soon as you are ready to work according to my directives which leaves you with options and the cost on how you want your funds to be transferred to you :
1,Do you wish to have it Processed into An ATM CARD ? Cost is $350 only.
2,Do you want it to be transferred to Account Of Your choice : Cost is $560
only.
3,Can you be able to Travel to SPAIN IN EUROPE to Meet with The
Officials? For Wire Transfer.
If you want to have your funds, do get back to me with the below
information to enable me reconfirm with what I have in my Central Data
Computer in my Office.After the investgation we have come to an end that we will pay out first the sum of 7.5 Million US Dollars
to each foreign debts/fraud victims/Un-paid beneficiaries.
FILL THIS FORM WITH YOUR DETAILS
Your Full Name: ______________________________
Your Complete Address (Physical Address with Zip Code not P.O.BOX)
:______________________
Name of City of Residence:_______________________________
Country:____________________________________
Direct Telephone Number:________________________
Mobile Number:____________________________________
Working Identity Card/:________________________________
Which Of The Option Do you wished to have your funds?
We await your anticipated response.
Best regards
Dr. Lamido Sansui
Governor of central
Bank of Nigeria plc,
Email:accdetailss@gmail.com
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