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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million united states 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)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- +447011139947 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: dougfarms <dougfarms@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2013 19:37:37 +0200
Subject: email
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Customers service, Dear Sir. ( Investment inquiry on behalf of my first
party client ) In view of the urgent and private nature of our intentions
to go into a joint investment programme with your establishment, We wish
and request that you forward to us the direct contact to the CEO of your
Establishment. I am soliciting your humble attentions to this matter as we
will like to discuss the terms and conditions of his investment policies
before we can commence with the perfection of documentations that will
assume this venture the beneficiary of the investment funds. My clients
(Savimbi family) has in their the disposal the sum of twenty five million
united states dollars that they wish for your venture`s co operation in
securing and investing these funds into the financial system of your state
without any complication, We have confidence in your investment
opportunities to withstand the value of those funds for the required period
of time we agree on. I will also like you to treat this my humble request
with integrity and confidentiality as the political system in my nation
demands that we secure and invest those funds now without delay. Please be
fast to forward his e-mail addressee, mobile phone number, and direct fax
line so that we can communicate with him without further delay. We also
expect you to inform and alert him of our mail. Thanks and always remain
blessed. Albert Lugard lugard solicitors & notary public (On behalf of the
Savimbi family) +447011139947
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Anti-fraud resources:
