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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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: "Dr Mark Adams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dmark1960@live.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:55:01 +0100
Subject: Urgent Payment information /25-03-2012
Attn. CONTRACTOR/BENEFICIARY
Sir,
Following a resolution reached today 25th of March, 2013 by the Joint Senate committee on contract review and Foreign contract payments, it was resolved that the Federal Government has waved out any irregularities that have stopped your payment of USD$15.5m into your nominated account.
However I have been appointed by this office to bring to your immediate notice and urgent attention that this new Government understands your plight, the huge amount of money you have spent and all the disappointment you have suffered in the past to get your contract sum paid to you. Due to what we described as selective payment and incessant demand of excessive fee by some unscrupulous and corrupt erstwhile officials in charge of foreign contract payment in the past.
All you are required to do is to reconfirm your payment details as you have been neglected in the past to receive your fund but thank God you have me to help you get it done this time. Once we received your information we will get an approval certificate from the Federal Executive Council and your fund will be transferred without any further delay.
I look forward to hear from you.
Yours sincerely
Dr Mark Adams.
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DIRECTOR (CBN)
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Anti-fraud resources:
