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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22993706283 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: chi nnoso <chi_nnoso74@hotmail.fr>
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:44:13 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,
Dear Friend,It has been long we communicated last, am so sorry for the delay ,I mean your cheque of ($850.000.00) that my boss asked me to mail to you as soon as you request for, but due to some minor issue you fails to respond at the aproprate time, and presently the cheque is with me here in BENIN REPUBLIC. Though I had a new contact from a friend of mine who works with one the Diplomatic Courier Company here in BENIN REPUBLIC that will deliver your cheque at your door step with a cheeper rate, which the company said that it will cost you the sum of( $95) us dollars, so you have to register with them now.Below is thier email address: (global_basic_co@yahoo.fr ) and the Directors name is ( Dr.Johnson Obi).Telephone.. 00229-93-706-283 Please do get back to me as soon as you have contacted the Diplomatic Courier Company so I can be able to submit your cheque to them immediately.I wait to hear from you soon.Thank you.Mr.Lam Chinnoso
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