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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- ",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)
- "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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "fundstransfer@ubagroupng.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "The Presidency" <aliumus.presideny@gmail.com>
Reply-To: foreignfinancialmatters@presidency-fgn.com
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2018 05:34:07 +0200
Subject: Re: Compensation Notice
Attn: Sir/Madam
This message is to officially notify you that information of your
unclaimed compensation entitlement valued at US$1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) has received attention of office of the presidency on foreign financial matters through the office of the minister for foreign affairs.
Be informed that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal
High Court of Justice has duly certified you to receive in full sum
value US$1,500,000.00 from United Bank for Africa (UBA)
To attend to your payment urgently it is important that you furnish
the paying bank (UBA) with the information's as follows
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
3. CONTACT TELEPHONE
4. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
5. YOUR MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION
Send all the above listed details directly to the paying bank's official email address here: fundstransfer@ubagroupng.org
Best Regards,
Mr. Aliu Mustapha
For; Office of the Presidency
Foreign Financial Matters
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