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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. )
- "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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 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.
- tntcourier00@deliveryman.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "TNT SERVICES" <tnt@consultant.com>
Reply-To: tntcourierserv00@consultant.com
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2010 21:17:40 -0500
Subject: INFORMATION...
Greetings!
I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Confirmable BankDraft of
200.000.00 EUROS,but I did not hear from you.Then I went and deposited the
Draft with TNT COURIER SERVICE, West Africa,I travelled out of the country for
a 3 Months Course.
The only money you will send to the TNT COURIER SERVICE to delivery our Draft
direct to your postal Address in your country is($155.00 EUROS)only being
Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.
Name:TNT COURIER SERVICES
Contact Person:Dr.Harry Smith
Dispatch Director.
Email Address:tntcourier00@deliveryman.com
Telephone:(+234)808-277-7059
Let me repeat again, try and contact then as soon as you receive this mail to
advoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee
of $155.00 EUROS for their immediate action.I know this email may come to you
as a surprise.
Finally indicate this code:GM0081 when contacting them,it will identify that
you are the owner of the 200.000.00 EUROS bank draft that was Deposited in the
company.
Yours Faithfully,
MR.SAEED AHMED
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