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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "registration 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. )
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Mike Dumala" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bar_mb@yahoo.it>
Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 05:28:46 +0100
Subject: CONTACT MAX-GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC COMPANY FOR YOUR CONSIGNMENT
Hello Dear friend,
Good day. How are you today? I am writing to inform you that I have Paid the registration fee for your check
which has been with me for a long time. And I went to the bank to confirm if the check has expired or getting
near to expire and Mr. Justin Yayi the Director of Central Bank Msia told me that before the check will get to
your hand that it will expire.
So I told him to clear the 1.5million united state dollars to caash payment to avoid losing the 1.5million under
expiration. However, all the necessary arrangement for delivering the 1.5million united state dollars in caash
was made with MAX-GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC COMPANY MSIA here in Kuala Lumpur.
Mr.Justin Yayi the Director Central Bank of Msia has package the 1.5 million USD in caash for you.
Then he also supported me in Registering the Box with MAX-GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC COMPANY MSIA.
As for our agreement with the MAX-GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC COMPANY MSIA they promised that your Box
will leave this Msia on or before 5 days from now, But the Director of the MAX-GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC COMPANY
MSIA said that they need your contacts information's to enable them meet up with you immediately the Diplomat
Agents arrived in your destination.
Please write a letter of application to the given E-mail address below.
ATTN: Mr. David Makalaka
Email: max_gdc@live.com
TEL: +60102057220
Please Send them your contacts information to enable them locate you immediately they arrived in your destination with your BOX This is what they need from you.
Full Name/Your Destination/Your Tel Number/ID CARD
Please make sure you send this needed information to the Director general of MAX-GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC COMPANY MSIA
Mr. David Makalaka with the address given to you. Note this Courrier Service Company don't know the contents of the Box.
I registered it as a BOX of Asian cloths.
They did not know the contents was caash. this is to avoid them delaying with the BOX. Don't let them know that the box contents
was cassh ok. I am waiting for your response. You can even call the Director of MAX-GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC COMPANY MSIA
with this line: Tel: +60102057220
Below is the Box Information:
Box Number: PLCC-101-PL45
Sort/Clearance Code: PLC/101-45/P50
Box Description: 1 BOX of asia cloths
Regards.
Dr. Mike Dumala
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Anti-fraud resources:
