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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:
- "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)
- "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a 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.
- 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.
- morgan_mcdon2@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MC Don" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <morgan_mcdon2@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 22:44:50 -0000
Subject: Give me a call on +234-802-759-8043
FROM:Diplomat Morgan MC Don
Firstly, I wish to introduce myself as a sympathizer of your situation. I am the Comptroller of Fund Movement Terminal and Director of national warehouse
where abandoned fund/valuables consignments are dumped. This is to inform you that fresh arrangement was made by me to conclude the shipment of your
consignment of funds to your country.
I choose to do this because records on your files shows that your consignment has packed for seizure due to lack of compliance of the Nigeria laid down
rules and regulations. I want to make sure you are ready to work with me, and as well confide in you to make this a success. I found out that this
consignment has been lying here due to lack of contact and none payment of delivery cost.
I decided to use my good office as the Delivery/Shipment officer in charge of the National Security warehouse. (This is where all the abandoned
consignments in Nigeria are kept as instructed by the Nigeria Custom Government) Therefore, this email is highly confidential and top secret. For this
reason, you must not inform anybody about this email or my contact with you. You must keep my relationship with you to be top most secret and highly
confidential as I am making all arrangement for your consignment to be delivered to you.
CONDITIONS OF THIS DELIVERY
1. You must keep my relationship with you highly secret/confidential.
2. You must not expose all the above information to anybody.
3. You must be willing to act fast on any information and directives given to you.
Be informed that this arrangement is strictly confidential as this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Nigeria Custom Government for seizure,
Hence my involvement. As soon as I receive your response, further details will be furnished to you accordingly.
Yours Sincerely
Diplomat Morgan MC Don
+234-802-759-8043
morgan_mcdon2@yahoo.co.jp
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