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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:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "transfer into your account" (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: "Mrs. A. M. Daniel- Nwaobia" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mscllap@yandex.com>
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2015 01:54:47 +0100
Subject: Confidential Message About Your Fund''
Notice For you alone...
I am writing to inform you on the situation of things concerning your overdue payment that has stayed here for so long. I am here to make sure you get back this awaited payment into your account. I overhead the new governor collaborating with other commercial bank officials to divert some overdue funds that has stayed here for a lengthy accounting period into their private swizz account. And I believe yours is inclusive.
If I can not handle this to the best of my knowledge. I would not have contacted you. I am aware you have spent a lot of money to secure back this fund into your account but they kept requesting for more funds from you thereby depriving you the capacity to get along with them. At this moment, I want you to work with me and make our communications confidential. It will benefit you more if you suspend any form of communication with anyone at the moment until I get back this funds into your account.. I have assisted a certain man from North Carolina USA and it worked out..All you need to do is follow my advise and allow me handle the rest from here..Get back to me immediately to enable me handle your file of payment in your best interest.
If you want me to go ahead, let me know as soon as you get this mail, if I make the transfer into your account this week, I am also going to back it up with all the necessary legal documents to avoid any form of interception as it goes into your account from here.
Get back to me as soon as you get this mail so that I will be in better position to know what to do. Get back to me on this
Sincerely,
Mrs. Anastasia M. Daniel- Nwaobia,
Perm. Sec. Fed. Min of Finance.
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Anti-fraud resources: