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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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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" <info@usa.org>
Reply-To: dmo.managementoffnigeria@outlook.com
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2016 04:26:43 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Swift Delivery Notification
Attn: ATM Card Beneficiary....
Please note that as per the Instructions from Mr.President of The Federal
Republic of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry Of Finance to our
Consolidated Oil Reserve Account Holders in the United States ( Wells
Fargo Bank Head Office) we have on Monday 4th January 2016 taken delivery
of your uploaded Inter Switch ATM Master/Verve Card valued the sum of
US$3.5Million (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) as uploaded by
our bankers Well Fargo Bank in your name and favor as the funds
Beneficiary your Wells Fargo Bank duly issued ATM Card awaiting urgent
delivery to your mailing address in your Country through the Office of the
Director General Of The Debt Management Office DR.Abraham Edo.also note
that we have entered into an agreement with FedEx courier company only for
your delivery at the agreed low rate sum of US$195 ONLY.
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Anti-fraud resources:
