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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "can i trust you?" (a common phrase found 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. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- +23417625745 (Nigeria, landline)
- 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.
- info_transcorpcourierservice@dominican.cc
- transcorpcourierservice_info@gawab.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Martins Obaseki Jr" <ibrmartins@tsamail.co.za> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 14:39:01 +0000
Subject: Mutual Business Relationship-Strictly
--
Mutual Business Relationship-Strictly
Greetings to you my friend.
I know this will come to you as a surprise because you do not know me.I am
Dr.Martins Obaseki Jr
I work in the Central Bank of Nigeria (C B N),packaging and courier
department.
I got your contact in my search for a honest person and some one I could
trust.Can I trust you? I want you to help me clear this package that is
already in Europe which I shipped through our Central Bank of Nigeria (C B
N) accredited CONTACT TRANSCORP COURRIER COMPANY. But the contents of the
package is $25,000,000.00 all in $100.00 bills, but the courier company does
not know that it is money that I have in the package all I want you to do
for me now is to give me your mailing address, your private phone and fax,
and I hope that at the end of the day, you will have 30% and 70% will be for
me . My identity must not be revealed to anybody.If this arrangement is
fine by you, you can call me or e-mail for security reasons other modalities
will be discussed as soon as you get back to me.phone:234-1-7625745,
E-mail:info_transcorpcourierservice@dominican.cc,transcorpcourierservice_info@gawab.com
Best regards to your family,
Thanks.
Awaiting Your Urgent Reply.
Dr.Martins Obaseki Jr
Make It A Great Day!
Treat As Confidential
Thank You; I Hope You Are Having A Great Day!
________________________________________________________________
Message sent using CWCS Webmail
Anti-fraud resources: