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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:
- "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. )
- "courier company" (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.
- 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.
- interpol_police_force_unit@ig.com.br (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: INTERPOL POLICE FORCE <officerecords56@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: INTERPOL POLICE FORCE <interpol_police_force_unit@ig.com.br>
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 10:33:17 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: FROM INTERPOL POLICE FORCE UNIT.
 You are welcome to desk of Chief Hon. Jeff Robert Carl the inspector general of International Interpol Police Force Investigating Benin Republic.
Chief Hon. Jeff Robert Carl the inspector general
E-mail------ interpol_police_force_unit@ig.com.br
Telephone-- +229 688 753 39
We are Working towards a corruption-free world by promoting and defending integrity, justice and the rule of law! Mission statement of the International Anti-Corruption Academy, We cover West African Countries.
Attention
Look i am here to update you with the new development concerning your ATM CARD delivery to you because i received call from Federal Ministry Of Finance just now and they want to know if you have received your ATM CARD or not that they are calling to recall the ATM CARD back to there office and i told them that your ATM CARD is out of the Country to your home address and i said so to them just to protect your ATM CARD for you .
And i called the USPS COURIER COMPANY that i used before to know if they can do C.O.D and they said yes but it will be stamp before they can carry it out and they said that to stamp it will cost you only $85, so are you ready because i will give you the tracking number once you send the $85 that they need and i don't want your ATM CARD to stay long here with me as you know that the Federal Ministry Of Finance will be investigating to know if you have received it or not like as i told them that you have received your ATM CARD to avoid them to recall it back.
Receiver: JULIUS IDIGO
Country: Benin Republic
Question:Very Urgent?
Answer: Today.
Sender:
Amount US$85
MTCN:
FROM INTERPOL POLICE FORCE UNIT.
Hon. Chief Jeff Robert Carl the inspector general
E-mail------ interpol_police_force_unit@ig.com.br
Telephone-- +229 688 753 39
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