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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "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.
- tunde.lemo.ng@minister.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Tunde Lemo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tunde.lemo.ng@minister.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:14:30 -0700
Subject: SUPER URGENT
FROM DR.TUNDE LEMO
DEPUTY GOVERNOR,
FINANCIAL SECTOR STABILITY
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN)
E-mail: tunde.lemo.ng@minister.com
Attn: sir.
I discovered your Inheritance Payment of Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($8.5M) unclaimed or our payment system. This was supposed to get to you via Dr Ignatus Imala's office via ATM CARD, and it has been insured by Nicon Insurance Company as well. So I wonder why, you didnt come for claim? Are you ill? If so, we advise you send your next of kin information to claim it on your behalf by confirming to my office the below information.
Your full names
Your full Home address (NOT P.O.BOX)
Current home phone number
Sex/identification.
YOURS SINCERELY,
DR.TUNDE LEMO,
DEPUTY GOVERNOR CBN.
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Anti-fraud resources: