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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:
- "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. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Jacky <mylovewine2008@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:11:20 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Hello my good Friend ,
Hello my good Friend ,
Kindly read carefully this message to avoid mistake.You only need to pay for the DELIVERY OF THE PARCEL .In accordance with What i planned to do for you,I will love in a short word thanking you for your kindly surpport although you are not capable to assist me to complete what i told you about as of the time I told you to help me out.Thank God for everything He has done into my life.Iam presently with my new Partiner now out of my Continent Africa. just for few Investment & Establishment projects.I hope you will need to contact the Courrea Service for your own part of gift which is what i burgeted to give you and i already give order for them to release it as soon as you contact them for the claim.It is a total Sum of ($800.000USD)Eight Hundred Thousand United States of American Dollars But this is not cach it is a BANK DRAFT CHEQUE and pls they dosnt know the contempt it is just a PARCEL and dont let them to know it is Money so that they will not
ask you
for too much charges as par delivery fees.It is for you just contact them and they will deliver it to you according to your own wish.
FDX Delivery
Benin Rep.
West Africa
Mr Stanley Meitzeger
Email; fdx.customercare@w.cn
NB.You are to pay (250$) Just try to findout from the FDX how may you sent it to them for your Parcel to be delivered to you safely.I only paid for security keeping Fee so you have to forward to them your real contact details to enable them no where the Parcel will be delivered to.ask them how are u going to pay the delivery Fee of 250$.
Regards,
Miss Jackie
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