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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- cjjccollins@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "James Collins" <web@voltaspa.it>
Reply-To: cjjccollins@sify.com
Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:30:28 +0800
Subject: MAIL FROM MR. JAMES COLLINS
DEAR SIR/MADAM,
I KNOW THIS WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS YOU DO NOT KNOW ME. MY NAME IS MR. JAMES COLLINS AND I FORMERLY WORKED WITH OIL MERCHANT IN ANGOLA SOUTH CENTRAL AFRICA DEPARTMENT OF EXPORTING CRUDE OIL PRODUCTS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND ALSO LIAISE WITH THE NATIONAL BANK OF ANGOLA.
I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH A COUNTRY SHORTLISTED EMAIL DIRECTORY. I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO SECURE AND CLAIM MY PACKAGE CONTAINING USD12,500,000.00 WHICH I SECURE FROM THE OIL MERCHANT THROUGH THE NATIONAL BANK OF ANGOLA WHICH IS ALREADY BEEN SHIPPED OVERSEAS VIA AN ACCREDITED DIPLOMATIC COURIER AGENT. ALL THE FUNDS IS IN USD100 BILLS BUT THE DIPLOMATIC FIRM DID NOT KNOW THE ACTUAL CONTENT OF THE PACKAGE.
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ASSIST ME PROVIDE TO ME THE FOLLOW:
YOUR FULL NAMES:
FULL ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER PREFERABLE MOBILE NUMBER:
AT THE END OF THIS TRANSACTION I WILL OFFER YOU 30% FOR YOUR ASSITANCE THAT YOU RENDER TO ME AND ADDITIONAL 2% FOR ANY EXPENSES THAT YOU INCUR DURING THE TRANSACTION AND PLEASE TREAT THIS TRANSACTION AS PRIVA TE AND CONFI DENTIAL.
OTHER MODALITIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AS SO ON AS YOU GET BACK TO ME V IA THIS EMAIL (cjjccollins@sify.com) INCLUDING SENDING THE KEYS TO UNLOCK THE PACKAGE TO YOU.
I WAIT YOUR RESPOND
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
JAMES COLLINS
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Anti-fraud resources:
