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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "million united states 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "DR.ANDREW AZAZI" <jamespgorman64@gmail.com>
Reply-To: andrew_azazi@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 05:42:34 -0700
Subject: LETTER FROM MR. ANDREW AZAZI
>From The Desk Of Dr. Andrew Azazi
I am Dr. Andrew Azazi of the Nigeria Clearing House. I decided to contact
you because of the prevailing financial report reaching my office and the
intense nature of policy in Nigeria . This is to inform you about our plan
to send your fund to you via cash delivery system.This system will be
easier for you and for us. We are going to send your payment of
($15.8million United states dollars) to you through diplomatic shipment
with the services of a diplomat,I have secure every needed document to
cover this fund. Note: This fund is coming in security proof boxes which
are sealed with Synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. I will use my
position to release this fund to you. The boxes are coming with a Courier
agent who will deliver them to you at your home address in your country.
All you need to do now is to send to me:
1. Your Name in full:.........................
.................................
2. Address:......................
.....................................................
3. Nationality:..................
..................................................
4. Age/Gender :.............................
...................................
5. Occupation:...................
...............................................
6. Telephone/Mobile Phone:............................................
7. Copy of your driver"s License............................... .......
Note: The Agent does not know the contents in these boxes, the content will
be declared to him as Sensitive Photographic Film Materials. I will secure
the clearance Certificate that will be tagged on the boxes which I will
dispatch along with the security inner Keys of the consignments to enable
you access them as soon as they are delivered to you.
Best Regards,
Dr. Andrew Azazi
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