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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "into your nominated bank 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "nigeria national petroleum corporation" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- engr.musabature@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: jys@sinter-filter.com
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2015 20:48:52 +0800
Subject: Dear Contract
NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC)BONNY ISLAND TERMINAL RIVERS STATE NIGERIA.Tel/Fax: 234-1-2640591.Email: musabature@nnpcgroup.com OR engr.musabature@gmail.com
Attn: Contractor,
On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and Senate Committee on Contract Award Chairman i wish to inform you that the payment of the contract of US$12,500,000 you executed for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 2009 has been approved for payment.
Having gone through your file you are expected to update us with your International Passport or Drivers Licence, Telephone/Fax Number to enable proceed with the preparation of the transfer into your nominated bank account.
Meanwhile the Federal Government of Nigeria has mandated every contractor to claim his/her contract payment before the closure of Government offices in the third week of December 2015.
Kindly contact me via engr.musabature@gmail.comBEST REGARDS.Engr. Musa BatureBonny Terminal Superintendent
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Anti-fraud resources: