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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- 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.
- speedcourier.deliverycompltd@yahoo.co.th (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Fred Ibee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <speedcourier.deliverycompltd@yahoo.co.th>
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 04:44:44 +0700
Subject: RECONFIRM YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS TO SPEED COURIER
Attention,
Contact the speed courier delivery company to know when they will deliver your compensation fund of $1.500.000.00 Million USA
Dollars packaged in a metal box with registration code (GS008).
CONTACT PERSON; DR ANDY LORD
DIRECTOR SPEED COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY LIMITED
E-mail :( speedcourier.deliverycompltd@yahoo.co.th )
CONTACT PHONE +229-99571490
Take note that the only money you have to send them is the security keeping fee i would have paid it for you but they said no
just because they dont when you will contact them so reconfirm to them this below information to avoid wrong delivery;
Your Full Name--------------------
Your Address-----------------------
Home telephone---------------------
Office telephone---------------------
Airport Name-------------------------
Your picture--------------------------
Let me know as soon as you receive your consignment box from the speed courier Use this code (GS008)As your email subject
when contacting the company to enable them identify you as the owner of the consignment box I registered with them.
Regards
Mr Fred Ibee.
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