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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Otu Oma" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dom53581@ gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2016 22:35:29 +0100
Subject: Happy New Year From Dr. Otu Oma,
I am interested in discussing a viable project with you directly or
your organisation.If you have the time,please write to me.
I am Dr. Otu Oma director of Crude and contract award verification
unit controller with Nigeria National Petroleum cooperation {NNPC} .I
deliberately over invoiced the sum of sixty eighty million dollars
{68m} dollar during contract and supply services by foreign
contractors in our unit.
My contacting you base that the original contractor has been fully paid.
I want to use your position to stand as the real contractor whose bill
is ready for payment in our unit now, so that this over invoice of
68m$ will be credited into the account your provide, then I come for
an investment plan arrangement.
You have to provide me with your company full contact Or your full
contact address, which will be file in as the executor of the
completed project whose outstanding bill of 68m is ready for payment.
You will have some % as we proceed with the transaction complete into
your approved account.
Note that all legal documents covering this 68m
will be process in your favor legally.
No risk is attached with this transaction.
Awaiting
Dr. Otu Oma
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Anti-fraud resources:
