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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:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "kelvinwilliams23@secretarias.com" (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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "DHL Nigeria Head Office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kelvinwilliams23@secretarias.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2010 01:05:08 -0400
Subject: CONTACT DHL OFFICE
DHL Nigeria Head Office
70 International Airport Road
Mafoluku, Lagos
Tel.: +234-812-348-3243
Email: kelvinwilliams23@secretarias.com
Mr. Kelvin Williams
You may think that we are scamming you but that was a typical lie this is real and no one will ever scam you form this DHL and get away with it.
I want to give you some tracking listed for other people who have received their own ATM CARD through our service and right now they are all enjoying it with no complain cheek this tracking listed by typing www.dhl.com then put 1(2896411641) 2 (2896411652) 3 (2896412061) (2897840175) if you must want to talk to any of this people who have already received their own CARD I will provide you their contact details to verify form them if this is real or not.
Re-confirm Your valid address, phone number and Your name and again call for your tracking number.
Send your delivery charges through Western Union or Money Gram any one of your choice to this information.
Receiver Name---------David Nwabueze
Country---------------------Lagos Nigeria
Test Question------------In God
Test Answer--------------We Trust
Amount to send is $98
I would advice you to go ahead and pay your delivery charges and receive your ATM MASTER CARD in less than 72 hours and began to enjoy your life like other who have received their own note that if we don’t hear form you until 21 working days your ATM CARD will be cancel and the fund will be transferred back to the CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA AS UNCLAIMED FUND.
Thanks and Godbless
Mr. Kelvin Williams
Tel.: +234-812-348-3243
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