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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)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "fund beneficiary" (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: "Dr. Abraham Nwankwo" <Dr.abraham@rmplc.co.uk>
Reply-To: dr.abrahamnwankwo469@yahoo.co.nz
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 21:42:41 +0100
Subject: HELLO
Attn: Fund Beneficiary
Permit me to use this medium to thank you contractors/Inheritance for your unalloyed endurance and support all these while the Government of this nation have owned you for the contract you executed for quite some time now. It is very understandable that you have really endured and this is the period this Government want to put a smile on your faces.
Sir, all our outstanding contractors that have not receive their contract payment I want you to know that this president, Dr. GoodLuck
Jonathan felts your pains and your burden with you and that is why I granted this immediate release of this payment of $10.5M to you.
So, what you need to do now is to indicate how you want this payment send to you. You should specify either by Telegraphic Transfer, ATM or
any other way(s) that can fit your desire.
This is the last opportunity and you should use it now because next year 2015 is our election and there will be no opportunity to pay
contractors out understanding Contract/Inheritance funds.
Congratulation!!
Best Regards,
Dr. Abraham Nwankwo
The Director-General,
Debt Management Office (DMO)
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Anti-fraud resources:
