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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:
- "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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: OFFICIAL NOTICE <bogsecretarybog.gv.gh@gmail.com>
Reply-To: beninese.consulate@autograf.pl
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 11:10:34 -1200
Subject: Re
--
Hello Dear,
I have registered your Cheque Draft with African Development Bank (A.D.B).
but the manager of African Development Bank told me that before the check
will get to you that it will expire. So I told him to cash out your
$1,500.000.00 Million US Dollars and all the necessary arrangement of
delivering your $1,500.000.00 Million US Dollars in cash was made with
Courier Delivery company Benin Republic.
Please kindly Contact the Manager of Courier Company Benin Republic with
your full information.
Dr. Titus Okechukwu Titus
E-mail: beninese.consulate@autograf.pl
Telephone: +229 67 22 17 44.
Note: The Diplomat Who Will Bring your Consignment box to you does not know
the Original contents of your box. I made them to understand that the
consignment box contains a sensitive photographic film material instead of
money for your security reasons. Send to them your contacts information to
enable them locate you immediately he arrived in your country with your
box.This is what he will needed from you.
1.YOUR FULL NAME----------------------------
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS-------------------------
3.YOUR CURRENT HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER--------------
4.YOUR CURRENT OFFICE TELEPHONE-------------------
5.A COPY OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT--------------------------
6.YOUR AGE----------------------------------------
7.YOUR COUNTRY------------------------------------------
8.YOUR OCCUPATION------------------------------------------
Best Regards,
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