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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:
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Death of Kaduna State Governor Nigeria, wife pleads for help." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <madamyakowa@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:54:29 -0600
Subject: Re: Death of Kaduna State Governor Nigeria, wife pleads for help.
Dear Sir/Ma,
My name is Mrs Amina Elizabeth Yakowa, wife and widow of the late Governor of
Kaduna State in Nigeria. My husband died in an helicopter plane crash last
saturday the 15th December 2012 where he attended an important official matter.
News of this is all over the whole world and so please do not see my message as
one of those internet dirty business. My husband was the only Christian Governor
in the North. That is why they ploted and killed him through helicopter crash.
Following his death, the Federal Government of Nigeria has asked me to present
my bill for the sum of $15Million dollars that is due to me and my family as
enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria. What i want from you is to claim the
said funds for me and invest judiciously for me and my children. I shall legitimately
apply for the funds and have them approved by the same Governement who asked me
to forward my bill for the claim of my husband gratuity. You shall be entitled
to 15% of the whole sum for your assistance in working with us.
Details of his death can be seen at the site below.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/yakowa-azazi-die-in-helicopter-crash/133710/
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/12/20121215225147473906.html
Please respond back to me so that i could give you more details as i am giving only
one week to claim the funds from the Nigerian affiliate in Denmark Bank.
Yours Faithfully,
Lizzy Yakowa
Widow of Kaduna State Governor.
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Anti-fraud resources:
