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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.
- diplomatagent75@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Pedro Torres <jianmcarreon@yahoo.com.au>
Reply-To: diplomatagent75@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:24:50 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Reconfirm Your Delivery Address To The Speed Courier Company
ATTENTION,
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your funds
but I did not heard from you since that time as we fixed.Then I went
and deposited the $1.500.000.00 Million USA Dollars,as consignment box
to SPEED COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY LIMITED in Benin Republic,because I
travelled to SAUDI ARABIA to visit my friend and i will not come back
till next month ending.
I want You to contact the SPEED COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY to know when
they will deliver your consignment box.I have paid for the delivering
charges The only money you have to send to them is the security
keeping fee of $185.00 Us Dollars to received your consignment box.
CONTACT PERSON; REV.ANDY LORD DISTRICT
SPEED COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY LIMITED
REPUBLIC. E-mail:(diplomatagent75@yahoo.fr)
CONTACT PHONE +229-99-65-22-00.
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the
security keeping fee. I gave them your address but you have to
reconfirm it to them again to avoid mistake in delivering your
consignment to you,Reconfirm below information to the company.
Your Full Name-----------------------
Your Address---------------------------
Home telephone---------------------
Office telephone---------------------
Your pic----------------------------------
Let me know as soon as you receive your consignment box Use this code
(GS008 )As your subject when contacting the company to enable them
identify you as the owner of the consignment box i registered with them.
Regards
Pedro Torres
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Anti-fraud resources:
