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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Robert Zoellick <service.worldbank@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:21:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: NOTICE FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WORLD BANK AMERICA
Attention Mr. Fogoso Your one hundred and sixty million
dollars have been cleared to be paid to you in our head office America .
You are to present (1) certificate
of origin of the funds (2) certificate of currency (3) money
laundry certificate After this has been presented you
have the total power to withdraw all the funds to your dominated account
in the present of the depositor Hon Oyiboadjeke Evojweke You are to come to our office in
withdrawing the funds Regards Mary Cummings
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Anti-fraud resources:
