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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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- drfelixrichard@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR FELIX RICHARD" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drfelixrichard@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2005 03:59:52 -0700
Subject: FROM DR.FELIX RICHARD
My Dear
This is to inform you that arrangements have been concluded as regards to the shipment of
your consignment of funds to your country. I choose to conclude it and make sure it is off
already before contacting you. I found out that this consignment has been lying here
because of non-payment of shipment fees.
This is why I decided to use my connections as the Shipment officer in charge of the
National Security warehouse. (This is where all the abandoned consignments in Nigeria are
kept at the orders of the Government of Nigeria.)
The consignment left Lagos Nigeria yesterday night en-route country via Germany/Spain. It
is metal box, silver in color with a weight of about 150kg, the box is declared as
containing diplomatic /inheritance documents only.
The name of the Courier Company based in Spain is Air Courier International LtdCall me
immediately so that I can give you the phone numbers of the courier company in Spain so
that you confirm when the consignment will arrive your country.
All I need from you now is your full details. (!) Your full names (2) Your postal address
(3) Your private cell phone and fax number. (4) Your international passport or Drivers
lances if you have any.
I choose to do this for you because I studied your file and discovered that you have paid a
lot of money before abandoning this consignment and I believe you will compensated me well
when you receive the consignment.
Note: I know the content of the Box because I could see the amount you are being owned by
the Federal Government. This is why I decided to get involved.You must also know that this
arrangement do not concern all the people you were dealing with in Nigeria before today as
this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Government.
Hence my involvement.
Waiting for your call and your mails
E-mail id / drfelixrichard@rediffmail.com
call phone +234 802 241 2267
Best Regards,
DR.FELIX RICHARD
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