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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "michealwilliams@gala.net" (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.
- 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.
- +22508057047 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: " Dr Michael Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <michealwilliams@gala.net>
Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 01:44:53 +0100
Subject: Your Consignment Is Now In Atlanta Georgia
Excel Securities Company
Abidjan – Plateau R?publique de C?te d'Ivoire
01 BP 1874 Abidjan 01, C?te d'Ivoire
Contact Person: Dr Michael Williams (Director)
Phone: +225 08057047
Hello how are you doing today. I wanted you to know that the funds was released
from Nigeria and now in ATLANTA Georgia. It was carried by our diplomat Mr. Mark Chaka Chaka And
the funds is now in ATLANTA Georgia in USA at the present time. The funds are now
lying with the diplomat who brought the funds from Ivory Coast to ATLANTA Georgia. The
diplomat doesn’t know the content of what is in the consignment he brought to
USA. On the documents that were given out to him he was told the consignment
contains industrial items and documents. So please do not let him know the
content of the consigment. Till its delivered to you and opened by you. You will
be given the passcode to open the consignment box as soon as we comfirm its had
been delivered and signed by you.
When contacting him don’t let him know that the consignment contains
Money, which he had brought to USA.
You will be contacting the diplomat for the delivery of the consignment to you.
Below its his contact information’s. You give him a call and let him know your
location so that the consignment can be delivered to you.
You also send to him your contact phone number and address with the below email.
Name: Mr. Mark Chaka Chaka
Email: markchaka@gala.net
Phone: +12067017501
When contact him you send him your address and phone number You give him a call.
Its important you give him a call. If you have any Question you can only reach
me on +225 08057047 or send me an email on michealwilliams@gala.net
Thanks
Dr Michael Williams (Director)
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Anti-fraud resources:
