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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:
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MAJ-GEN.BADU KWASI." <majorgeneral_badu@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:51:42 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: RECOVERED FIVE(5) CONSIGNMENTS
ATTENTION,
I MAJOR GENERAL BADU KWASI OF GHANA (OTU BARRACK)
TESHIE WISH TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT FIVE(5) OF YOUR METALLIC TRUNK
BOXES OF CONSIGNMENT HAS BEEN RECOVERED BY MY BOYS THIS MORNING.
IF
IT MAY INTEREST YOU,THIS BOXES WAS RECOVERED AT DUDU'S INSURANCE COMPANY
WITH ONE WHITE MAN CALLED ROBERT HAMMER,WHO CLAIM THAT HE WAS YOUR
REPRESENTATIVE AND THAT THE ENGINEERING COMPANY WHO IS TO WORK ON THE
BOXES SAID THEY WILL NOT REMOVE THE INNER GLASS AFTER THE MAIN METALLIC
COVER NOT UNTIL THE BOXES ARE INSURED FIRST.MY BOYS FIND OUT THAT YOUR
NAME WAS TAGGED ON ALL THE BOXES SO WHEN I GOT THIS REPORT I ORDER FOR THE
ARREST OF THIS MAN AND ALSO ASK THEM TO BRING THE BOXES THE BARRACK AS AM
MAILING YOU NOW THE BOXES ARE HERE IN OUR BARRACK.
I ADVISE YOU TO
CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY FOR THE RELEASE OF THE BOXES AND IF YOU NEED US TO
DELIVER TO BOXES WITH THE MILITARY PRIVATE JET I CAN MAKE THE ARRANGEMENT
ONLY WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TO PAY OF THE GAS OLIN.
I WAIT TO HEAR
FROM YOU SHORTLY.
REGARDS,
MAJ-GEN.BADU KWASI.
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Anti-fraud resources:
