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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:
- "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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
- 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.
- idris_suleman@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "IDRIS SULEMAN" <sulemanidris850@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:19:51 -0600
Subject: $9.7Million on Transit:
From The Desk Of
Alhaji Idris Suleman
National Security warehouse of Nigeria.
Attn: Consignor,
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 shipment fees. This is why I decided to use my
discretion as the Shipment officer in charge of the National Security
warehouse of Nigeria. (This is where all the abandoned consignments
and Master Cards from Banks are kept at the orders of the Government
of Nigeria.) .The present situation in Nigerian Government
Does not allow any delay of transaction , because no body knows what
is going to happen any moment from now because of Mr. President?s
health condition.
The consignment has left Nigeria today en-route to USA. The box is
declared as containing personal effect. Call me immediately so that I
can give you the name, phone number of the delivery officer so that he
will inform you his Location for Clearance. I decided to use this
Diplomat because he is a U S A citizen and knows how to get his way
through as far as US government is concerned. He is an experienced man
as far as diplomatic shipment is concern.
Warning!: The content of the consignment is Money but declared
personal effect to avoid diversion by the delivery Agent. Please do
not disclose the content of the Consignment to the Delivery agent to
avoid diversion. You must also know that this arrangement does not
concern all the people you were dealing with.
Re confirm your details as soon as you get this mail. So I can forward
to you the information of the Diplomat so you can meet with him to
get the consignment from him.Please contact me through my private
Email:(idris_suleman@hotmail.com)
Waiting for your quick response.
Alhaji Idris Suleman
National Security Warehouse of Nigeria.
Call me on 234-80 20-7194-18.
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