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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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: "Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF)" <terrance.slobodiann@gmail.com>
Reply-To: fmfpolicy@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 2 May 2015 21:40:04 +0100
Subject: Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF)
Ahmadu Bello Way, Central Business District
Abuja, Nigeria.
Good day
I wish to inform you that there is a change of government which will be
happening next month because we just concluded our presidential election
which was in favour of the opposition Party called (APC) hence a massive
rotation in all governmental office which might jeopardize your likelihood
of receiving your compensation funds of $500,000.00USD.
The Honorable President of Nigeria has issue a mandate that all unpaid
funds should be paid at all cost before handover date which is May 29th 2015
hence this government has issued 100% Wavier and will assist you
financially with 100% of the needed fee in concluding this transaction.
All that is needed from you is to obtain a Presidential Wavier Certificate
which is only 99$USD and this is the only requested fee from you. No cent
will be needed of fee once this Certificate is obtained and within less
than 2hours your payment will be released from Bank of Communications UK
without any obligation.
Kindly reconfirm your full name, address, cell phone and home phone number
upon the receipt of this information, more directives will be given to you.
Note that this process is not negotiable in any form.
Thanks.
Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Hon. Minister of Finance
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Anti-fraud resources:
