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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)
- "revjohnkofi51@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev Dr John Kofi" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revdrkofijohn@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2011 03:33:51 -0700
Subject: THIS IS YOUR PAYMENT UPDATE PLEASE GET BACK TO ME:
THE PRESIDENCY
REPUBLIC OF GHANA
CONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE
EMAIL: revjohnkofi51@live.com
Our Ref FGG/PRES/01-10-2011
>From the Desk of: Rev Dr John Kofi
CHAIRMAN CONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE.
ATTN:SIR/MADAM
After the meeting we held yesterday with the presidency based on
report we received from United Nations, we received an email from one
Mrs. Nancy Brown who told us that she is your next of kin and that
you died in a car accident last week. Below is her address 802 S. 76th Place Mesa AZ 85208 USA
we should send your FUND ATM CARD to her.
Please confirm to us if the information is right so that we will not
make any mistake. As soon as we hear from you we shall send you a scan
copy of your FUND ATM CARD and bear it in mind that we are taking care
of courier cost which is only $1,180.
This is the Second quarter payment of the year and with the agreement
we have with United Nations that this year all our contractors will
receive their over due payment unless you are a ghost contractor.
You should also send us your phone as fax number to enable us call you
as soon as we send it.
And no account we will deduct any cent from your fund since we are
taking care of the courier cost.
I wait to hear from you
Rev Dr John Kofi
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Anti-fraud resources:
