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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:
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Kingsley Moghalu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hsbcbk55@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2014 22:46:04 -0700
Subject: RESPOND VERY URGENTLY: IN GOD WE TRUST.
Delivery Commission Committee on Financial and Allied Matters
1250 S Miami Ave APT 812, Miami, FLorida 33130
Our Ref: USA/WB/FL/US/BG-X08-USABF/2014
Dear Sir/Mma,
I am the assigned delivery agent that will deliver your money to your address as soon as i hear from you so that i can give you the copy of your airway bill number of the cargo containing your money,I WANT YOU TO RECONFIRM YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER SO THAT I WILL CALL YOU AS SOON AS I ARRIVE IN MIAMI FLORIDA Immediately i hear from you then i will give you further information of your fund that will be parcelled to you as a diplomatic baggage.This fund is as regards to your Lottery which you have won and we want to request why you have not received the fund.(US$10.7m)
Confirm your direct contact details to me to avoid misdirection of funds.
Full names:
Delivery address:
Closest airport:
Direct cell phone number:
I am waiting for your urgent response.
Thanks
Yours Truly
Dr Kingsley Monghalu
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Anti-fraud resources:
