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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:
- "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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- courfed@aim.com (AOL Instant Messenger; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "FedEx Express Courier" <info@loan.com>
Reply-To: courfed@aim.com
Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:40:28 +0430
Subject:
Dear Customer,
Good day to you. We have been waiting for you to contact us for your Package
that is registered with us for shipment by the Lottery commission to your
residence. Be informed that we are in possession of a Parcel containing a
cheque of $800,000.00 USD.
It is the usual practice of this commission to conduct a proper verification
of all Packages that we are to deliver to ensure that they are valid. Be rest
assured that the content in your package has been confirmed valid and we will
commence delivery once you have met the necessary requirement. For your
information, the Mail,VAT & Shipping fees have been paid by the Lottery
commission Board when your package was registered ,what you need to pay is
the Security Keeping fee of $ 170 USD As stated in our privacy terms &
condition page. kindly supply the below info:
~Full Name:.......................
~Postal address:..................
~State/Country:...................
~Direct Telephone Number:.........
Await your Swift Response.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr Federick W. Smith
C.E.O FedEx Express Courier
Email: courfed@aim.com
Direct Line: +234-705-814-1324
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