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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "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)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- +2348058037576 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR. T. DUKE" <warehouse@warehouse.com>
Reply-To: mailswift1@ozu.es
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 17:09:08 -0700
Subject: YOUR FUND ABANDONED FUND IS ON TRANSIT TO YOU
>From The Desk Of
Dr. Thomas Duke
National Security warehouse of Nigeria
This is to inform you that arrangements have been concluded as regards to the shipment of your consignment of funds to your country. I choose to conclude it and make sure it is off already before contacting you. I found out that this consignment has been lying here because of non-payment of taxable fees. This is why I decided to use my connections as the Shipment officer in charge of the National Security warehouse. (This is where all the abandoned/confiscated consignments and Master Cards are kept at the orders of the Government of Nigeria.)
The consignment has left Lagos Nigeria yesterday night en-route country via Spain/ USA. It is a metal box, silver in color with a weight of about 150kg, the box is declared as containing diplomatic /inheritance documents only. Call me immediately so that I can give you the name, phone and fax numbers of the company that is in change in USA so that you confirm when the consignment will arrive.
I choose to do this for you because you may have paid a lot of money before abandoning this consignment and I believe you will compensate me fine when you receive the consignment.
You can track it with this WBSITE: (www.iship.com
TRACKING NUMBER (EC932373096US
Note: I know the content of the Box because I could see the amount you are being owned by Central Bank of Nigeria. This is why I decided to get involved. You must also know that this arrangement do not concern all the people you were dealing with in Nigeria before today as this consignment/Payment has been surrendered to the Government. Hence my involvement.
You are urgently advised to reconfirm the followings. YOUR FULL NAME; AS WRITTEN IN YOUR ID CARD __________;HOME ADDRESS _____________________; DIRECT Cell NUMBER _________________;.to enable the Courier Agent to meet you and deliver in person
Waiting for your call
Dr. Thomas Duke ; CALL 234-8058037576
National Security warehouse of Nigeria
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Anti-fraud resources:
