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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "transferred into your bank account" (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)
- "economic and financial crimes commission" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "farida mzamber waziri" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "farida waziri" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "mrsfaridamzamberwaziri@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: " Mrs. Farida Waziri" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrsfaridamzamberwaziri2011@w.cn>
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 05:28:57 -0700
Subject: THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENCY 27/7/2011
THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENCY
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION
14A AWOLOWO LANE, IKOYI
LAGOS NIGERIA.
Motto: No Body is Above the LAW
FROM THE DESK OF: Mrs. Farida Waziri
Attention:
It was resolve and concluded today that you are the real beneficiary of this fund of which the federal government of this country has given me the authority to have this fund sent to you, first of all i will start by introducing my self to you. I am CHIEF MRS FARIDA MZAMBER WAZIRI (AIG rtd.) EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION NIGERIA. so do not be afraid to receive this fund because it has been approve by the president for those who has fall a victim in the hands of impostors so i instructed my Secretary to inform you before further
procedure and i will also assure you that i,m in the right position to send you this fund and some legal document will be sent to you. and also you are to forward every mail sent to you concerning this you fund in other to help us with some investigation until you have your fund transfer to your bank account.
Note :Meanwhile you are to reconfirm to me that you are not the person that instructed him to claim your fund, all you are to do for me now is to reconfirm the below information back to me now so as to enable me direct you on how the fund is going to be transferred into your bank account.
Your names
Your age
Your direct phone number
Your occupation
Your international pass port
Your country
Your zip cod
I will be waiting for your urgent responds.
Yours Sincerely
Mrs Farida Mzamber Waziri
Direct Email: mrsfaridamzamberwaziri@w.cn
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Anti-fraud resources:
