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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:
- "demurrage 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. )
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "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)
- "raymondwilson@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- +447024074654 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Sam White" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <raymondwilson@qq.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 08:05:23 -0700
Subject: Good News Kindly Contact Mr.Raymond Wilson Asap
Attn Beloveth,
I am writing to inform you that after waiting and no response was heard, I deposited and also paid for the Delivery fee of your $12.500 000.00 Million US Dollars, as consignmentBox to EMIRATES FINANCE SECURITY COMPANY and what you are to pay is only the demurrage fee of $150Usd Because I have traveled with my family.
I will want you to stop contact those imposter because they are not with your consignment box and only what you are to pay is only $150Usd for the demurrage fee of one month and that is what you will pay before your consignment box gets to you so you are to contact the EMIRATES FINANCE SECURITY COMPANY to know when they will be delivering your consignment.
EMIRATES FINANCE SECURITY COMPANY.UK, LONDON.
E-mail: raymondwilson@qq.com
Tel: +447024074654
Your Full Name--------------
Your Address-----------------
Sex---------------
Age--------------
Home Telephone-----------
Occupation----------------
Office Telephone---------------------
Country-------------------
Try to contact him as soon as possible with your complete details to avoid increase in demurrage fee. I gave them your delivery address but you have to reconfirm it to him again by sending it to them to avoid any mistakes in the delivery of your fund.
Your Sincerely,
Dr.Sam White
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