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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- "international court of justice" (not involved with lotteries)
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "money order " (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- +447011129437 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: Scarlet Courier Service <larryjohn04@prodigy.net>
Reply-To: larryjohn28@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:16:07 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR MONEY ORDER PAYMENT IS READY FOR DELIVERY, COMPLY ASAP
Dear Friend,
I GOT THE CERTIFICATE OF PAYMENT ORDER ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE TO YOU,AND I which to inform you that your money order of $10.8 million US from Barclays Bank UK which is spited into $500,000 at each transaction to avoid Taxes by your Central Bank due to the international funds monitory policy; your package was forwarded to my desk this morning by the director of remittance department of Barclays Bank(UK) AND A COPY FROM BARRISTER Richard Davids LL.B(LOND)B.L SOLICITOR & ADVOCATE
But there will be a hold up because of the delivering charges, so there fore I will advice you to send the sum of $80 as the delivering charges so to enable us send the package to you within the next 48 hours.
For we to proceed i will like that you send the following details to enable me cross check and see if it corresponds to the in formation i have on my desk.
feel free to call me any time if you have any question of help and Provide me with the following details
Name:.........
Address:......
Phone:........
marital status:...........
age:........
occupation:...
As soon as I hear from you I will get the funds delivered to you without delay also free free to call me at any time
Waiting to hear from you soonest
MR LARRY JOHN
Scarlet Courier Limited
Tel:+447011129437
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Anti-fraud resources:
