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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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.
- secexchangecommission@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Security and Exchange Commission <secexchangecommission@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2010 09:40:24 +0100
Subject: PAYMENT AND REPATRIATION OF 10% DIVIDENS ON INVESTMENT
*SECURITY AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
(STOCK EXCHANGE)
REF NO: SEC/1011-VOL.20*
*CONTRACTOR: Larry Miller ,*
*RE: PAYMENT AND REPATRIATION OF 10% DIVIDENS ON INVESTMENT*
*Due to inability of the apex bank (Central Bank Of Nigeria) to pay all
outstanding contract debt as and when due. The new government in apparent
move to forestall fraud and to redeem her image among the foreign creditors
decided to “place” these funds on “stock market” which dividens of 10% has
been declared in your favour.*
*You are therefore requested to submit formal letter of application to
security and exchange commission to pay your dividen as declared in year
2000/2010. also indicate your bank account where this money shall be
deposited. Your mailing address to receive documents by DHL courier, as some
vital documents shall be sent to you for endorsement.*
*You are therefore warned to stop further communication with any other
agencies except Security and Exchange Commission, which now has the mandate
to pay your debt.*
*Note: Confirm your outstanding debt and amount owed to you.*
*Please treat as urgent as more detail will be communicated to you*
*Regards*
*Chuks Afam*
*Director of Claims*
*secexchangecommission@gmail.com* <secexchangecommission@gmail.com>*,
*
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Anti-fraud resources:
