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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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- fedex_courier.companyltd1@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Peter Emma" <peter_emma_02@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: fedex_courier.companyltd1@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 01:12:32 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Re: Urgent Response
Hello Dear,
Â
I have Paid the fee for your Quench Draft. But the manager of Eko Bank Benin told me that before the quench will get to you that it will expire. So I told him to convert the quench draft $1.5, Millions USD DOLLAR to ATM Master Card. All the necessary arrangement of delivering the $1.5, Millions USD DOLLAR in card was made with FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY.
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CONTACT PERSON:REV.ROBERT FREEMAN(Director)
EMAIL: fedex_courier.companyltd1@yahoo.fr
Contact phone number: +229 98 833 903
Try to contact them because they are in charge of delivery of your ATM card to you.Please, Send them all your contacts information's to enable them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your ATM master card .
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 This is what they need from you.
1. YOUR FULL NAME--------------
2.YOUR COUNTRY ----------------
3. YOUR HOME ADDRESS--------------
4.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER---------
5.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE ---------------
6.A COPY OF YOUR PICTURE---------------------
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Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY, REV. ROBERT FREEMAN (Director) with the address given to you. Note. FEDEX EXPRESS COURIER COMPANY doesn’t know the contents of the parcel. I register it as a new year gift .They doesn’t know it contents money. This is to avoid them delaying with the ATM card.
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The Deposit details:
Deposit Number: PLCC-101-PL45
Sort/Clearance Code: PLC /101-45/P50
Deposit Certificate N0.: 405576
Note. That the only money you will have to pay them is $175 being the security keeping fee of the parcel and i repeat never you let them know the true contents of the parcel to avoid further expenses.
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Regards,
Mr.Peter EMMA.
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Anti-fraud resources:
