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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:
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "contract award committee" (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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "contractreviewingteam ." <contractreviewingteam@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: ahmedibm_frd200@yahoo.it
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:38:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Notification On Your Fund Release
CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE
105 Kofi Abayomi Lane Victoria Island
Lagos Nigeria
Telfax 23480-5748-1203
Attn:Mr./Madam,
Notification On Your Fund Release.
We the entire of the the Contract Awarding Committee was oblige to write and contact you this day in respect of your outstanding Contract Payment ,which was as the result of your out-standing Over Due-Contract Payment Approved from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).You are advised to hold your peace and be ready to comply to evry instruction from this Office right now. As the Present Democratic Elected Presidency had accepted the ideal to Offsetting all Outstanding Contract Funds.
In view of this, You are expected to carefully give an adequate attention to this Office by Reconfirming your Contract Details and your Presently Valid Bank details , to avoid diversion of Funds into wrong or an old given Bank Details .In your urgent reply to this mail, endeavor to give call to the given Officer below for further confirmation and clarification of yourself and details in respect of the approved payment.
Our Respected Correspondence Banks in Europe and American shall immediately Contact you without further demands of fees / charges of all manners in the cause this approved Over Due Contract Payment to each and everyone of our Contract. Note the FG had devoted and appoints Quality Security Personnel to effectively monitor every payment via SWIFT to ensure Fraud free.However, bear in mind that all charges or levies would be demanded once upon your receipt of your Contract Fund.
We look forward and awaiting your kind Cooperation and Understanding to this new program.
Yours Faithfully
Dr.Ola-Bode Thomas.
Protocol Director.FGN Contract Awarding / Payment Committee
Direct Cell.+23480-5748-1203
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