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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:
- "affidavit of claim" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- ahmad.grace@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Compensation Unit <mr_f_eze@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: m524353f@ymail.com
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 09:05:48 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?SXTigJlzIGEgaGFwcHkgYW5kIG1lbW9yYWJsZSBkYXkgZm9yIHlvdS4=?=
Greetings!,
Â
It’s a happy and memorable day for you. We are happy to announce to you that after all failed attempt to claim your payment prize, west Africa monetary agency (WAMA) has intervene after the executive board meeting from all west African regional headquarters in Delta State. This was as result of injunction issued by International monetary control board. In a statement, the chairman of the agency, Dr. Abdullah Umar directed that all the beneficiaries should file affidavit of claims to the agency assigned payment unit for payment.
Contact person is as follows;
Dr. Jebbah G Ahmad
E-mail: ahmad.grace@rocketmail.com
Please note; Dr. Jebbah will detail you on the payment program. Remember to include the approved payment code which is WA/016/MU57/12.
Congratulations!
Mr. Anthony George
Executive Secretary
West Africa Monetary Agency
(WAMA)
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Anti-fraud resources:
