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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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Abdul Waziri" <special@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <abdulspecialwaziri@yahoo.fr>
Date: Sat, 02 May 2015 16:47:49 +0400
Subject: Can you assist =?UTF-8?Q?me=3F?=
Dear Friend,
I will be Happy to read your reply.
I know that you will be surprise to hear about this transaction since
we don't know each other before but it was due to the urgency of this
transaction makes me to contact you through email please accept my
apology.
I am the interim Bank Manager under political appointment in this Bank
(UNITED BANK OF AFRICA.UBA) I need your urgent assistance in
transferring this sum of (US$ 9.3 million dollars) to a foreign account
before i step down end of this MAY 2015, please would you be interested
to assist me with your account to receive this fund? Let it be what i
achieved this few periods.
Take note: You will have 40% of the above mentioned sum if you agree; I
look forward to receive your return mail for more details on how to
execute the transfer to your account.
With my position i assure you that this transaction is 100% risk free.
Send me your information as follows.
1. Name in full:.................
2. Address:......................
3. Nationality:..................
4. Age:..........................
5. Sex...........................
6. Occupation:...................
7. Marital status:...............
8. Your cell N0:.................
Thanks and have a great day.
Mr.Abdul Waziri
Interim Bank Manager.
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Anti-fraud resources:
