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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:
- "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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- jimokoli202@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Compensation commitee" <compensationcommitee@ccv.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jimokoli202@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 23:31:51 -0400 (CLT)
Subject: YOUR COMPENSATION
YOUR COMPENSATION
Investigations have been on over scam activities as instructed by his
Excellency the president Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. the state security
service SSS have also been working to ensure that all fraudulent
activities stops as instructed by the president also to ensure that the
1.Million US dollars mapped out by the Federal government to compensate
each victim is paid without any trouble.
I have paid the shipping fee to DHL Delivery Company. This is the
registration Number of your
Package Jan/122p/mtm/2007Zip Code;0113388.
I want you to contact the company immediately with the following
information’s though i gave them your information but you need to
reconfirm your information to avoid mistake on delivery process,
The delivery charges has been paid but i did not pay their official
keeping fees since they
refused, They refused and the reason is that they do not know when you are
going to contact them and demurrage might have increase.
They told me that their official keeping fees is $50 per day AND will
start counting after 48hours its deposited and I deposited it yesterday.
you have to pay them official keeping fees is $50 so that they can deliver
your package ATM cARD to you without any delay. Call or e-mail Delivery
Agent as soon as you send the payment of $50 to below payment info. which
they provide and ask me to give to you to send the fee via western union
along with your residential Address were they are to arrive with the
consignment within 72hours.
Sender's Name:...............Your full Name
Receivers Name....Martins Agi
Country.................Lagos Nigeria
Test ?.........................Thank
Test answer..........................God
MTCN......................
Amt...$50 only
Delivery Agent: Jim Okori
Email: jimokoli202@gmail.com
Tel:+2347045596018
Please contact Jim Okori immediately you receive this email so that your
package will leave tonight to be deliver to you.
God Bless you.
Mrs. Ruth Umar
Secretary Compensation commitee.
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Anti-fraud resources:
