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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 us 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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Musa Jubril" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <musa.jubril20@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2019 18:13:46 -0800
Subject: Seeking Your Permission???
Mr. Musa Jubril
The Holy Crescent Mosque
82 Ago Palace Way, Okota-Isolo
Lagos Nigeria.
Dear Sir,
Permission To Remit US$10 Million into Your Company or Private Account.
Many thanks for your response. It is my pleasure to write and inform you of a transaction involving the
transfer of US $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million US Dollars) only into a foreign account for safekeeping pending
my arrival with my colleagues for the sharing with you as the account owner into which the money is remitted.
I am an accountant with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Lagos and this money
originated from over-invoiced contract executed for the corporation some years back. This contract has long
been completed by a foreign firm and the contractor duly paid. I now seek if you would permit the surplus to
be remitted into your account.
To effect this transfer, I therefore request the following: Your Bank Account Details where the funds will wired into and other information
below.
Your Full Name:
Your Address:
Your Private Telephone/ Fax Number for quicker communications.
You should not fear any risk because I have concluded every arrangement for your safety in this transaction.
This business is 100% risk free. Hence it requires high level of confidence and secrecy.
Meanwhile this is the breakdown of the sharing modalities:
(A). 10% WILL BE USED TO SETTLE TRANSFER CHARGES AND LEGAL PROTOCOLS.
(B). 30% IS FOR USING YOUR ACCOUNT.
(C). 60% OF WILL BE FOR US THE ORIGINATORS.
Be informed that on completion of this business I will use part of my money to invest in your country under
your care. Please note that the transfer operation will take seven to ten working days to be completed.
Thanks
Mr. Musa Jubril.
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