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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Revdavid Williams <revdavidwilliams@ymail.com>
Reply-To: drdavidwilliams222@ymail.com
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 16:09:08 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: HI
All you need to do now is to send to me the following data :
1. Your full name and house address
2. Your identity such as, international passport
or driver's license
3. Your contact phone numbers.
4.Your occupation
The Diplomatic attached will travel with this required information for the delivery of your fund. He will call you immediately he arrives Your country's airport. I hope you understand me. I will let you know when these consignments will be lifted, and Note: The diplomatic does not know the original contents of the boxes. What is declared to them is Sensitive Photographic Film Materials. I did not declare money to them please. If they call you and Ask you the contents please tell them the same thing OK.
Contact me immediately and I will let you know how far I have gone with The arrangement.I will secure the Diplomatic immunity clearance Certificate that will be tagged on the boxes to make it stand as a diplomatic consignment, which I will dispatch along with the security inner Keys of the consignments to enable you access these consignments as soon as it delivered to you.
This clearance will make it pass every custom checkpoint all over the world without hitches. Confirm the receipt of this message and send the requirements to me Immediately you receive this message.Please I need your urgent reply because the boxes are schedule to airlift as soon as we hear from you.
Best Regards,
REV.DAVID WILLIAMS
The Director International Telex Department
Central Bank of Nigeria.
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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