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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:
- "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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "DR NANA KWESI" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kwesinana280@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 4 Jul 2013 11:36:55 +0100
Subject: DEAR PARTNER
DEAR PARTNER,
DUE TO THE ILLEGAL OPERATIONS OF FRAUDSTERS IN OUR COUNTRY GHANA OUR COUNCIL WITH THE UNITED NATION FORUM HAS ESTABLISH TO HELP YOU AND OTHER SCAM VICTIMS RECOVER YOUR FUNDS AND CONSIGNMENTS BOXES HERE IN GHANA AND AFRICA.
WE HAVE RECOVER 100 CONSIGNMENT BOXES ABANDONED IN OUR AIRPORT WARE HOUSE AND AN OTHER 50 CONSIGNMENT BOXES APPREHENDED FROM ILLEGAL FAKE DIPLOMATS.
DUE TO THE PETITIONS RECEIVED BY THE FORMAL UN BOSS SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN FROM ALL OVER THE CONTINENT IN REGARDS TO THE FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES GOING ON IN THE WEST AFRICAN SUB-REGION WITH THE SECURITY'S AGENT AND DIPLOMATS WHO HAS BEEN DELAYING PEOPLE'S FUNDS AND GOLD HOLD,CONSIGNMENTS AND VALUABLES IN THEIR CUSTODY ARE DEMAND TO BE RELEASES TO THEIR OWNERS.
I AM THE CUSTOM CONTROLLER AT KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT GHANA AND CUSTOM INSPECTION, DR.NANA KWESI UNITED NATION HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR PEACE KEEPING,APPOINTED BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF(N.D.C) PRESIDENT JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA, I HAVE INCLUDED YOUR NAME INTO THE BENEFICIARY FILES OF SCAM VICTIMS FOR RELEASE OF ONE CONSIGNMENT BOX VALUABLE OF $5 MILLION TO BE DELIVER TO YOU FROM THE CARGO DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED NATION DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICE WEST AFRICA KOTOKA AIRPORT GHANA.
YOU ARE THEREFORE ADVISE TO SUBMIT ALL YOUR INFORMATION FOR ONWARD DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX TO BE DELIVER TO YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY.
FULL NAME.
DELIVERY ADDRESS.
PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER.
I AWAIT YOUR REPLY SO THAT THE FUNDS CAN BE DELIVER TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
YOURS FAITHFULLY
DR NANA KWESI
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