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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:
- "outstanding contractors" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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: "HARRIS GRAHAM" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <harris_graham@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2013 02:18:41 -0800
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT IS VERY IMPORTANT OUTSTANDING INHERITANCE
World Bank Delegation
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL,
London - UK Office
Our Ref: WBD/OHG/2013 Your
Ref:.................................
TELEX: WBANK.
PAYMENT FILE: WBD/BEN/UK/2013.
Email;...........................
RE: OUTSTANDING INHERITANCE
PAYMENT/CONTRACT#MAV/WB/FGN/MIN
ATTENTION SIR\ MADAM
>From The Records of Outstanding Contractors Due For Payment With The Federal
Government Of Nigeria, United Nations and World Bank Delegation Your Name
Was Discovered As Next On The List Of Outstanding Contractors/ Beneficiary Who Have
Not Received Their Payments due to some of the unscrupulous elements working against you.
I Wish to Inform You That Your Payment Have being processed and will be
Released To You As Soon As You Respond To This Letter. Also note that from
Records in My File Your Outstanding Contract /inheritance Part Payment Is $15.2
Million Dollars (Fifteen Million Two Hundred Thousand United States of American
Dollars}.
To this end, you are required to indicate your mode of payment.
1)BY CASH DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR STEP
2)BY ATM MASTER CARD
3)BY ONLINE BANKING.
Please Re-Confirm To Me If This Is In Line With What You Have In Your Record
And Also Re-Confirm To Me The Followings below:
1} Your Full Name..............
2} Your Phone and Fax Numbers..........
3} Your Company Address and Position.........
4} Your Marital Status, Profession..... and Age.........
As Soon As this Information is received, your Payment Will Be Made To You
through the mood of payment as you may choose above from The World Bank delegation
London And more details will be given to you for the procedure of the payment release.
Your urgent answer is needed.
Yours In Service
MR. HARRIS GRAHAM
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
WORLD BANK DELEGATION
FOR UNITED KINGDOM
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Anti-fraud resources:
