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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: MR JOSEPH ODUMODU <mrgodsonwisdom1@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: customsservices98@ymail.com
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:15:09 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATTENTION MY DEAR, OPEN THE ATTACHED FILE FOR YOUR PACKAGE HERE.
CUSTOMS SERVICES
REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
ATTENTION MY DEAR,
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU
ABOUT YOUR PACKAGE HERE AT OUR OFFICE INTERNATIONAL AIR PORT NIGERIA REPUBLIC,
YOUR PACKAGE IS HERE FOR LONG NOW AND WE ARE TO GIVE YOU 7 WORKING DAYS FOR YOU
TO GET YOUR CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE, WHICH COST YOU $75 DOLLARS ONLY.
WE NEED IT AT THE
OFFICE BEFORE THIS 7 WORKING DAYS OR YOUR PACKAGE WILL BE SEIZED AND YOU LOSE
THE PACKAGE, KNOW PACKAGE LEAVES THE INTERNATIONAL AIR PORT WITH OUT CUSTOMS
CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE; WE NEED YOUR URGENT ATTENTION BEFORE THIS 7 WORKING DAYS
FOR YOUR PACKAGE TO LEAVE THIS AIR PORT TO YOUR LOCATION. CONTACT US BACK ON
THIS EMAIL (customsservices98@ymail.com) SO THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU INFORMATION
WHERE TO SEND THE MONEY.
NOTE THAT THE CUSTOMS
OFFICERS NEED THIS INFORMATION FOR THEIR DIPLOMAT TO LOCATE YOU IMMEDIATELY HE
ARRIVE YOUR AIR PORT WITH THE CONSIGNMENT BOX;
YOUR FULL NAME
===================
YOUR HOME ADDRESS
=========================
YOUR CLOSE AIR PORT
========================
NAME OF YOUR COUNTRY
=======================
YOUR PICTURE OR ID
========================
YOUR
AGE===============================
YOUR OCCUPATIONS
======================
PHONE NUMBERS
=======================
THAT IS ALL THE
CUSTOMS NEEDED FROM YOU SO GET BACK TO US AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL
TODAY SO THAT WE CAN PROCESS YOUR DELIVERY IMMEDIATELY.
MR JOSEPH ODUMODU
DIRECTOR GENERAL
CUSTOMS SERVICES
NIGERIA REPUBLIC
TEL;+234 802 838 3784
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Anti-fraud resources:
