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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- 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.
- +447045776816 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.James Ruben" <infoReliance@florasyria.com>
Reply-To: ganderson562@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2015 02:40:11 -0900
Subject: DIPLOMATIC PAYMENT
Reliance Bank Limited,
Faith House, 23-24 Lovat Lane,
London EC3R 8EB
Good Day
I am delighted to inform you that the Reliance Bank Limited Management
through the office of Prime minister have decided to call back all
approved fund payment through offshore payment center following directives
from UNITED NATIONS & WORLD BANK and have concluded arrangements to pay
your beneficiary/contractual fund by cash through Diplomatic Agent.The
Agent will be delivering the cash in a Machine sealed consignment to your
door step as my bank have temporarily stopped further payment via wire
transfer this quarter.Diplomatic. In this regard, we are going to send
your inheritance/contractual part-payment of USD10.5Million only to you
via our accredited Diplomatic Agent shipping company and we have secured
every needed document to cover the delivery of the money.Note:The money is
coming to you on 2 security proof boxes. The boxes are sealed with
synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. The boxes are coming with a
Diplomatic agent who will accompany
1) Full Name
2) Full house address
3) Your mobile phone
4) Any form of identification.The Diplomat attached will travel with it.
He will call you immediately he arrives your country's airport.
5)Age and Occupation
Note:The diplomat does not know the original contents of the boxes. What l
declared to them as the contents is Sensitive Photographic Film Materials
for security reasons. I did not declare money to them please. If they call
you and ask you the contents please tell them the same thing OK. You will
secure the Diplomatic immunity clearance certificate, which will make it
pass every custom checkpoint all over the world without hitch. Confirm the
receipt of this message and re-send the requirements to me immediately you
receive this message. Please I need your urgent reply because the boxes
are scheduled to live as soon as we hear from you.
I will call you as soon as l get your contact info for further directives.
Yours truly,
Dr.James Ruben
Reliance Bank Limited
Phone Number.+447045776816
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