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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:
- "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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "ELOHO PARK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <eloho75@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:59:36 -0800
Subject: HELLO!!!
Dear Sir/Mam,
With regards regarding the consignment which was recovered at the international airport here in Ghana and your email address was on the consignment that is why am sending you this mail.
After scanning the consignment we understood that it was US$18million in total and its spendable cash which is right now at the police ware-house. My office called the United Nations and also the presidency office here in Ghana to be aware of the funds which they informed that i should make sure that the funds get to the owner since the number is on the consignments and that was why i contacted you.
Now the United Nations is ready to make sure that the documents which will allow the funds into your country legally without your government having problem will be processed and i have been asked to inform you that your:
1.Full Names.
2.Delivery address.
3.Work address.
4.Work Id Card or Passport Number.
With the above i will then go to the federal high court of justice for the legal documents with a back up from the United Nations.
With this i will wait to hear from you so that we can proceed immediately.
Best Regards,
Comm Eloho Park .
Commissioner of Police Service-Ghana.
Tel:+233 246 873 460.
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