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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "okonedem3367@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Okon Edem" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <okonedem3367@excite.it>
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2014 11:04:24 +0100
Subject: RE: REQUEST FOR PARTNERSHIP
Dear Friend
Sincere apology for my intrusion into your privacy. I'm aware of the
unsafe nature of the internet, but due to the prevailing circumstances
at this time I don't have any other option than to seek your consent
to this proposition through this means. I am Dr. Okon Edem, I am one
of the directors with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation. I
write to propose if I can entrust the sum of Twelve Million USA
dollars to your care for investment purposes. I have the means to move
this stated sum to your custody.
Comprehensive details will be made available on receipt of your
response indicating your interest. Revert to me with your complete
names, contact address and private telephone numbers for further
communications. Please treat with utmost confidentiality and send your
contact details to okonedem3367@qq.com.
Thanks in anticipation
Dr. Okon Edem
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Anti-fraud resources:
