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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:
- "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)
- "diplomatic courier" ("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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- andychalk@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "UNITED NATIONS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <andychalk@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:10:55 +0530
Subject: CONTACT HIM FOR YOUR CONSIGNMENT
Attention Beneficiary,
i write to inform you that we have Made Arrangement with the UN Diplomatic Courier Company to Ship your Consignment Box Fund Valued of $7.3M. in fact i thank God very Much for all the Movement i Made,Everything goes Normal.
AS for my Agreement with the United Nations DIPLOMATIC COURIER COMPANY DIRECTOR:Dr.Harry Mavis, he promised that your Consignment box will leave this Country today. Your Fund is in United State Currency and in $100 bills all. Note: The diplomatic does not know the original contents of the boxes for security reason.
What i Declared to him as the content is sensitive Photographic film Material. i did not declare Money to him.Please, on his arrival to your Country, if the agent calls you and asking you the contents, Kindly tell him the same thing OK. you should contact the courier Company and Forward Them with your Details Below:
(1) Your Full Name:
(2) Your Address:
(3) Residential Country:
(4) Occupation:
(5) Direct Telephone/cell #:
(6) Nationality:
(7) scanned copy of Id:
The person you are to contact information is Below:
Dr.Andy chalk
Diplomatic Courier Company Email:andychalk@yahoo.com
i shall forward you all other Details when you have contacted the courier company. you should make sure you contact Dr.andy chalk and Forward him your full details to Enable him proceed today. They are Awaiting to Hearing from you as soon as possible.
Regards
The Secretary
Richard Goodman
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Anti-fraud resources: