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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "infomt103@gmail.com" <infomt103@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 13:11:42 -0800
Subject: READ BEFORE DELETING. FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Dear Sir/Madam,
This is a call for Next of Kin of some deceased customers who lost
their lives on Industrial accident.
Please go to the Bank website: www.intermicrofinancebank.com and click
VERIFICATION LIST, to verify if you have any knowledge of the names
listed on the Bank website as the search for their next of kin has
proved abortive.
Contact the Bank Manager.
Rev. Paul Roland
Tel: 234-803-858-3095
revpaul.r@intermicrofinancebank.com
customercare@intermicrofinancebank.com
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Smith Patricia
Debt Management Office,
Federal Ministry of Finance,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Abuja-Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
