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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dispatchdirector@w.cn" (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.
- 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: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: dispatchdirector@w.cn
Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:21:26 -0700
Subject:
Dear Customer!
This mail is to remind you of your registered package.
CONTENT: Bank Draft of $800,000.00 USD officially Registered by an Official of the United Nation. The $800,000.00 USD is a donation to you from the U.N through in collaboration with Nokia Co-operation perform an e-mails Balloting. For your information the VAT and COD and none. Scan airport Up liftment have been paid.
But the only payment that you are to make is $275 US Dollars being the security keeping fee of your package. Please Contact FedEx Courier Express Delivery Department (DISPATCH DIRECTOR) Mr. Alex Kennedy for shipment details and requirements.
Take Note that this Payment is very important for the security company release and the FedEx deliver your package and IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT PAYING THE FEE FOR THE SECURITY KEEPING PLEASE DON'T EVEN BOTHER TO CONTACT THEM FOR THE DELIVERY!!
Contact Person : Mr. Alex Kennedy (DISPATCH DIRECTOR)
Email Address : dispatchdirector@w.cn
Telephone : +234-818-387-9560
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Names in
Full ...............
Residential..............
Zip code : ............
Country :...................
Occupation : ...............
Telephone/fax Number : ......
Age : .......................
Marital Status :............
Sex : ....................
Nationality : ............
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Elizabeth Richard.
© FedEx Express Corporation
All rights reserved.© 1995-2010 FedEx
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This E-mail is only for the above addressees. It may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not an addressee you must not copy, distribute, disclose or use any of the information in it or any attachments.
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