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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:
- "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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "onlineexpressdelivery@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: "Mr.Emeka Williams." <jerrywhite166@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: onlineexpressdelivery@w.cn
Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:25:05 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: GOOD NEWS TO YOUR TODAY
Hello
dear:
I am with your check draft and I took it to the FINANCIAL BANK PLC to confirm it, then the Manager of the Bank Mr.Bernard Mantu told me that before the check will get to you, it will expire on the way and if it expired it will become useless so he advised me to Convert $1.6m (ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS) into cash and pack it into a strong iron box and deposit it in FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC to deliver it in CASH to you. And I did it as he advised me because he is a banker he knows the durability of any foreign check or draft. I deposited the consignment in the FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY as cotton materials for security reasons.
This is the registration Number of your consignment FEDEX/122p/mtm/2011 Zip Code; 0113388 so do not let the company to know the real contents of the consignment so that they can deliver it for you safely. I want you to contact the company immediately with the following information,though I gave them your information but you need to re-confirm it for them. Below is the required information you need to give them now,
1.YOUR FULL NAME:_______________
2.DELIVERY
ADDRESS:_____________
3.PHONE:_________________________
4.FAX
NUMBER:____________________
5.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY:____
6.AGE:____________________________
7.MARITAL
STATUS:____________
8.COUNTRY:____________________
9.CITY:____
10.OCCUPATION:___________
All these things is
needed from you now to submit to the company for urgent delivery of your
consignment contains $1.6M Please CONTACT the delivery company immediately and
reconfirm your info to them to enable their agent locate you when he arrived in
your country. This is the information below:
Directors Name:
Rev.Dr.Remond Okoyo
Company's Name: FEDEX Courier services,
Contact Email: (onlineexpressdelivery@w.cn )
Phone number: +229 98838372
Please contact the company immediately you receive this email so that your consignment
will leave immediately and deliver to you. Get back to me as soon as you receive
your consignment from the company. God Bless you.
Best regards,
Mr.Emeka Williams.
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