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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "the 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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (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.
- +447024033325 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- martins_lucas101@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MARTINS LUCAS" <marins.lucas202@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 20:37:37 -0700
Subject: PLEASE BE FAST.
Hello Dear,
How are you doing today?
Well i'm writting to inform you that the Diplomat will be departing from
London to your country in a week time with the consignment boxes, I'm only
waiting for your address information which you wish the consignment
delivered to.The consignment are in two trunk boxes,
Please be fast with the whole informations regarding your home and office
address to enable me hand over everything to the Diplomat working under
United Nations Organisation before he depart.I also request your telephone
number to give to the Diplomat to call you when he arrive. I and my coleaque
will join you immidiately you have recieved the consignment.I have completed
all the arangement with the Diplomatic courier service to guarantee the safe
delivery of the consignments to you. Endeavor to send me your telephone
number immidiately so that I can forward it to the Diplomat to call you upon
his arrival to your country. Please be fast to reply this mail to me so that
I could give you more details concerning the consignments.
E-mail me immidiately at martins_lucas101@yahoo.co.uk or you can call me on
my private telephone number for quicker response. +447024033325.
Best regard.
Rtd Major Martins Lucas.
Anti-fraud resources:
