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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:
- "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)
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "does not know the contents of the box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
- 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.
- icexpresscouriltd@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Philip Iwunuo" <goodservice030@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: icexpresscouriltd@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:32:40 -0500
Subject: Delivery of your Package $4.5Million
My Dear,
I have cashed your draft/cheque in worth of $4.5Million Us Dollars for your
overdue payments, due to the expiry date in the cheque I boxed the money and
deposited it for shipment with International Courier Express Company(IC
Express) Benin Republic, so to deliver the box to you and to avoid another
hoax as you were disappointed in the past. So you’re required to contact the
International Courier Express Company(IC Express) with your delivery address
and your telephone numbers so that they will commence immediately with the
delivery of your box to your nominated address. Bellow is their contact-
Contact Person: Mr. Maxwell Landry Director of IC Express Delivery Company,
Email :( icexpresscouriltd@gmail.com
Tel: 00229-96088825
Try to indicate all this CODES to them because it will prove that you are the
rightful person that own the Consignment Box deposited in their custody.
SHIPMENT CODE AWB 33XZS,
PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.
SECURITY CODE SCTC/2001DHX/567/;
TRANSACTION CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/;
CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE; SCTC/BUN/xxiv/-78/01
Note; the International Courier Express Company(IC Express) does not know the
contents of the Box. I registered it as a Box of ''Scientific apparatus''.
They don't know the true content; $4.5Million. This is to avoid them from
delaying with the Box .Don't disclose the content of the Box.
Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director of
International Courier Express Company(IC Express) MR. MAXWELL LANDRY with the
e-mail address given to you. So contact International Courier Express Company
(IC Express) today and try to contact them with your personal information as
listed bellow;
Full Name-------------------------
Home address-- BOX) -----------------
Current Phone-------------------
Country---------------------------
Passport--------------------------
Occupation-----------------------
Sex---------------------------------
Age--------------------------------
Best Regards,
MR. PHILIP IWUNUO
REPRESENTATIVE FMF BJ.
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