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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "fedexcop@blumail.org" (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: "Mrs. Elizabeth Chucks." <jajaemegini01@yahoo.dk>
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:27:52 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Good Day My Dearest One.
Good Day My Dearest One,
Compliment of the day, I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Draft which my boss left with me before he traveled out of the Country but I did not hear from you since that time till today. I went to the bank to confirm whether the draft is getting close to expire as it had been long time my boss issued the draft. The director of the bank told me that before the draft will get to you that it will expire. Then I told him to help me and cash the cashier bank draft of $1.5 million to cash payment.
However, I have successfully cashed the draft and packaged it in a box and have registered it in the FedEx Delivery Company Service here in Benin Republic because I will travel to see my boss in Paraguay and will not come back till April 30th 2011. You have to contact the FedEx Express Company Service to know when they will deliver your package to your address. I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fees.
The only money you have to send to them is their security keeping fees which is $65.00 USD to receive your package.
This is their Contact Address;
Mr. Paul Raph (Director)
E-mail:( fedexcop@blumail.org )
Tel: +229 98423928
This is the information they needed from you.
1. Your full name:......
2. Your shipping/home address:.....
3. Your tel no #......
4. Your current office tel no #
5. A copy of your passport.
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid incresment of the security keeping fees Note; I didn't tell the FedEx Express Company Service that it's money inside the box, I registered it as package of a Church Minister Materials. This is to avoid delay or any upfront problem during the delivery. So, do not let them know that the package contents money.
Thanks and Remain Blessed.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Elizabeth Chucks.
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