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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- 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.
- fedex_co_co5@sify.com (Sify; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: sam ede <geonali1051@verizon.net>
Reply-To: fedex_co_co5@sify.com
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2010 01:19:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT REPLY
Dear Friend,
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your draft but I did not hear from you since that time. Then I went and deposited the $4.5M usd as a consignment box to FEDEX COURIER COMPANY here in Cotonou Benin Republic, because I travelled to SAUDI ARABIA to visit my friend and I will not come back till next month ending.
I want you to contact the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY to know when they will deliver your package. Please, Send them your contact information to enable them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .This is what they needed from you.
1.YOUR FULL NAME...................
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS........
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHON E NUMBER.........
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE......
5.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE .......
6.YOUR COUNTRY................
7.YOUR NEAREST AIRPROT .................
8.YOUR AGE .............
CONTACT PERSON;REV,DR PIUS UDE.
DIRECTOR GENERAL OF FEDEX COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.
E-mail:fedex_co_co5@sify.com)
CONTACT PHONE: +229-99-375-413
Let me know as soon as the delivery of your package is completed. Do not tell them the content of the box because I registered it as a box of ordinary family belongings.
best Regards,
sam ede
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