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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:
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "WORLD BANK" <worldbankn@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: leonardptson@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2010 20:11:58 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: CBN TO SETTLE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL CONTRACT PAYMENT
Good day,
This is to notify you that under special directives, your accrued interest
amount derived from your contract principal sum is being worked out and
insured for credible payment transfer across to your nominated account by
our World Bank Nigeria Zonal Office.
Due to the inability of some agencies and parastatals including Central
Bank of Nigeria {CBN} TO SETTLE OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL CONTRACT/INHERITANCE
PAYMENT to foreign contractors and a lot of scam practice by Nigeria
Government officials with the recent pursuance of your contract through
their paymaster which to world bank sounds ridiculous.
The senate committee on Banking and Finance on the floor of the senate
chambers CO-JOINED with members of Nigeria house of representatives to
re-view all issues of foreign payment transfer matters and resolve the
issues completely with enactment of {BILL} on failed contract/bank
transfer, empowering world Bank to handle your funds transfer matters
through our Zonal affair in Nigeria of settlement.
This new bill is about payment transfer guarantees to beneficiaries to
avoid the former hi-cups and un-ending payment transfer between the bank
in one hand and foreign contractors in the other hand. World Bank is
therefore the only organization as expiate risks managers to Raise
Irrevocable funds transfer guarantees and make release of the fund across
to you before the end of this year.
Above all, we have been mandated to liquidate contract debts starting
first with your Accrued Interest Amount. Upon your receipt of this notice,
and your prompt response, you will be issued Indemnity Certificate. We
will brief you on the Pay-of-Roll-on-Procedure.
Thanks for your understanding.
Mr. Leonard Peterson.
Zonal Representative
World Bank.
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Anti-fraud resources:
