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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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "GOVERNOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA" <g.emefieleoffcenbannig2014@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2014 11:06:59 +0200
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
ASO ROCK ABUJA NIGERIA
Your kind Attention: The Beneficiary
Contact me for more information.My Name Is Dr.Godwin Emefiele. I Am The
new Governor Central Bank Of Nigeria.This Is To Notify You That Your Over
Due Inheritance Funds Has Been Gazetted To Be Released To You Via The
Foreign Remittance Department Of Our Bank. Meanwhile, A Woman Came To My
Office Few Days Ago With A Letter, Claiming To Be Your Representative And
Sent By You.
If she is not your representative or sent by you, kindly respond
immediately reconfirming to me the following details to avoid any
mistake.Full name;Full residential contact address;Direct telephone number
number;Age and current occupation;Copy of your identification if
available.However,We Shall Proceed To Issue All Payments Details To The
Said Mrs.Barbara Kleihans If We Do Not Hear From You Within The Next Three
Working Days From Today. Await for your prompt response.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Godwin Emefiele
GOVERNOR CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA.
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Anti-fraud resources:
