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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:
- "consignment " (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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
- wilsondelivery999@yahoo.es (Yahoo, Spain; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "sanusi lamido" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sanusilamido678@yahoo.es>
Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2012 00:56:28 -0400
Subject: YOUR DIPLOMAT HAS ARRIVE WITH YOUR CASH CONSIGNMENT BOX AT J.F.KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NEW YORK, CALL HIM NOW (+1-818 561 6079).
Attention, this is to notify you that your diplomat WILSON AMADI has now arrived with your cash consignment box loaded with US$4,7M at John .F.Kennedy international airport new york city, United State of America from Dr.sanusi lamido the executive governor of Central Bank of Nigeria Contact your diplomat now with your full Name home and address also your valid phone number through (wilsondelivery999@yahoo.es) for the release of your fund and also to give you more details about your fund.
CONGRATULATIONS
DR SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI
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Anti-fraud resources:
