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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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "zenithbnknigplcs@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: "FROM:ZENITH BANK PLC" <iba458@w.cn>
Reply-To: zenithbnknigplcs@w.cn
Date: Tue, 15 May 2012 01:31:23 +0545
Subject: PLEASE RESPOND IMMEDIATELY
>From the Desk of
Dr. Johnson Usman
Attention:Sir.
I am writing to you with utmost belief that you will understand my plight
for my endeavor to see that you finally receive your long suffered overdue
Compensation fund once and for all now.
To be honest with you,the only thing needed to finally transfer this
compensation fund to you is the TT Fund ownership Certificate document.
Consequently,I wish to inform you that I have personally taking my
hospital leave to travel to USA and would wish to suggest to you that i
want to bring your fund of US$1.500,000 only to you there to prove myself
as genuine and sincere .
Please indicate to me how you want this payment of $1.500,000 (One Million
Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars):,
(1) By Cash.
(2) By Bank Certify Draft.
(3) By ATM CARD.
Kindly let me know how you want me to bring your fund to you.Please give
me your current address and Telephone number for easy communication as
soon as i arrive your country .
I appreciate and will seriously appreciate you to reply and tell me of
your agreement. Also, i assure you of my trust and sincerity to execute
this civic duty with earnest and confidentiality.
Thanks while waiting for your immediate response
Dr. Johnson Usman
Zenith Bank Plc
Tel:+234-1-952-5371
Cell:+234-812-882-0885
Fax:+234-1-266-88011
Email:zenithbnknigplcs@w.cn
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