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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "un_ibmusa@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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: "PROF. MALAM SANUSI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <un_ibmusa@live.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2010 06:06:03 -0800
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY NOW!!!
DEAR FRIEND,
COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON
I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THOSE FUNDS
TRANSFERRED UNDER THE COMPENSATION OF NEW PARTNERS FROM PARAGUAY
AND I AM PRESENTLY IN SOUTH KOREA FOR INVESTMENT PROJECTS WITH MY OWN
SHARE OF THE TOTAL SUM. MEANWHILE I DID NOT FORGET YOUR PAST EFFORTS AND
ATTEMPTS TO ASSIST ME IN TRANSFERRING THOSE FUNDS DESPITE THAT IT FAILED US
SOMEHOW ALONG THE LINE.
NOW CONTACT MY SECRETARY WITH HIS DIRECT PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS
AND ASK HIM TO SEND YOU A CERTIFIED BANKERS DRAFT OF $1,500.000.00 US DOLLARS
WHICH I KEPT FOR YOUR AS COMPENSATION FOR ALL YOUR PAST EFFORTS AND ATTEMPTS
TO ASSISTING ME IN THIS MATTER. I APPRECIATED YOUR EFFORTS AT THAT TIME VERY MUCH
SO FEEL FREE AND GET IN TOUCH WITH MY SECRETARY AND INSTRUCT HIM WHERE TO SEND
THE AMOUNT TO YOU.(MAILING ADDRESS).AND YOUR PHONE NUMBER. IN CASE YOU WANT IT
TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU HAVE TO INFORM HIM ON TIME.
PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU RECEIVE IT SO THAT WE CAN
SHARE THE JOY AFTER ALL THE UPS AND DOWN AT THIS TIME. AT THE MOMENT I
AM VERY BUSY HERE BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT PROJECTS WHICH I AND THE NEW
PARTNERS ARE HAVING AT HAND.
FINALLY, REMEMBER THAT I HAD FORWARDED INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY ON
YOUR BEHALF TO RECEIVE THOSE MONEY SO FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM TO
SEND THE AMOUNT TO YOU WITHOUT ANY DELAY.
NAME OF MY SECRETARY: IBRAHIM MUSA
PHONE NUMBER:+234 709 254 0578
EMAIL ADDRESS: un_ibmusa@live.com
MY BEST REGARDS AND GOD BLESS YOU.
PROF.MALAM SANUSI
EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR C.B.N
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