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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "info.topex-company@empresarios.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "Hon James Hills." <ijeomaokoye1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info.topex-company@empresarios.com
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2018 15:56:39 +0100
Subject: ATTN: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION!
ATTN: PAYMENT NOTIFICATION!
This is to bring to your notice that, I have paid the courier charges
and the delivery of your ATM CARD.I paid it because the ATM CARD worth
USD$5.8M has less Four weeks and four days to expire and when it
expires the money will go into Government reserve. With that I decided
to help you pay the money so that the ATM CARD will not expire,
because I know when you get your ATM CARD definitely you must
compensate me.
Now your ATM CARD has been deposited with TOPEX Courier Company for
delivery so I want you to contact TOPEX Courier Company with your
Full Contact information so that they can deliver your ATM CARD to
your designated address without any delay.
Your Full Name:.........
Home Address:...........
Country:................
Phone Number:...........
Like I stated earlier, the delivery charges has been paid but i did
not pay their official keeping fees since they refused. Reasons for
their refusal are because they do not know when you are going to
contact them. They told me that their keeping fee is $30 per day and i
deposited it On 16th March 2018.
Below is their Contact Information,
Contact Person: Mr.Robinson Luis
Topex Delivery Service
Email: info.topex-company@empresarios.com
Tel: +229-66102181
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid mistake on the
delivery. I gave them your delivering address but you have to
reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake in the delivering
including with your ID or Picture. Hoping to hear from you as soon as
you receive the package box contains $5.8MILLION .
Ask Mr.Robinson Luis TOPEX Courier Company Director How you Can Send
to Them There Official Security Keeping Fees Witch Is Only $30 which
is per day.
Contact Today to avoid increase of their keeping fees and let me know
once you receive your ATM CARD.
From Hon James Hills. the General
Payment Contractor of Federal
Government Africa.
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