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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Nelson White" <barristerrevhcgreen@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "Mr. Nelson White" <bank_service@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2017 06:28:53 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attn My Dear Friend!!
Attn My Dear Friend!!
I want to acknowledge you that we have finally succeeded in getting
your package worth’s of $7.5 million out of (ECO-WAS) Economic
Community of West African States department with the help of Mr. James
George Attorney General of Federal High Court of Justice Benin
Republic which act as your foreign Attorney representative here in
Benin Republic.
Meanwhile every necessary arrangement has been made successfully with
the Agent Steve Raymond for the delivery of your Consignment Box and
every Document guiding your delivery is well updated so you are
advised to reconfirm your full delivery information to the Agent right
now as he is currently at Atlanta Georgia International Airport with
your Consignment Box. He has already called me with his number on his
arrival 4 hours ago.
So you are advice to reconfirm your full delivery information to the
diplomat and ask him to send you your DHL Airway Bill so as to prove
to you that he is currently in your country also ask him to give you
his mobile number so as to have easy conversation with him and to
enable you give him full direction to get your Consignment Box
delivered to you and hand you over your Consignment Box safe and
sound, Furthermore you are advice to be very fast as the Agent Steve
has no time to waste due to his flight ticket. So the Information you
are required to reconfirm to the Agent is as Follow.
(1)Your Full Name_____________
(2)Mobile Phone Number________
(3)Current Home Address________
(4)Fax Number________________
(5)Country___________________
(6)City______________________
(7)Nearest Airport _____________
(8)Passport/Drivers license ______
Kindly contact him via his email address, Contact person, Name Steve
Raymond So contact him to
deliver your consignment box first thing tomorrow morning possibly
today, Make sure the bellow stated codes are identified when
contacting him and the content of the box should not be revealed for
his does not know the content as it’s a VIP Delivery dispatched
directly from my office and the director of the Company.
Mr. Nelson White
call +229 98651391
The Director of DHL Courier Company Benin Republic.
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