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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "express courier delivery" (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. )
- "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)
- "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.
- murray_james24@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- contact person: mr. murray james e-mail address: murray_james24@hotmail.com murray_james25@hotmail.com telephone line: (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mariam Benson." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <murray_james24@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 01:50:18 +0700
Subject: Re: Greetings TO You!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greetings TO You!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are happy to congratulate you for emerging as one of the email draw
winners of $850,000.00 United States Dollars in this year's Online
National Lottery Powered by the Internet.
For claims, contact the SWIFT EXPRESS COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY with
this information bellow;
SWIFT CONTACT PERSON: Mr. MURRAY JAMES
E-MAIL ADDRESS: murray_james24@hotmail.com
murray_james25@hotmail.com
TELEPHONE LINE: 011-234-7025-506-236
When contacting them,Remember to fill this information and send to
them for the delivery of your consignment direct to your postal
address.
1. Full Names:
2. Residential Address:
3. Phone Number:
4. Fax Number:
5. Occupation:
6. Sex:
7. Age :
8. Nationality:
9. Present Country:
Note: the only money you will send to Mr. Murray James
to deliver your Consignment direct to your postal Address in your
country is just ($190 .00 USD) One Hundred And Ninety United States
Dollars only being Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.
Again, don't be deceived by anybody to pay any other money except $190
.00 US Dollars.
Contact him as soon as possible for the delivery of your consignment
right there at your postal address.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Mariam Benson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
