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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "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. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "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.
- beninfedexcompany@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: deborah albert <babygirl1us2002@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 01:02:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX COMPANY IMMEDITALY
Dear Friend,
In respect of your support and hardworking in this organisation the board of excutives in their last meeting has decided to reward twelve members effort with the sum of USD $1,5.000.00 One Million Five Hundred thousand united state dollars only each,right now YOUR FUND has been deposited yesterday at the FEDEX COURIER COMPANY here in BENIN REPUBLIC
1.CONTACT PERSON......MR Emeka William.
2.DIRECTOR E-mail:(beninfedexcompany@rocketmail.com)
my dear except the security keeping fee of$20 per day all other money and documents regarding the delivering of your box has been handed over to the FEDEX company.You have to contact the FEDEX Courier Company now for the delivery of your consignment to avoid further delay that might attract demurrage.
Please note that FEDEX Courier Company will start calculating their demurrage charge of $20 per day so do contact them immediately, and reconfirm your contact information to them when contacting them:
1..Your full name..............................
2..Your delivery address...............................
3.Your Home phone number............................................
4. Your Mobile phone number...........................................
The money has been packaged and sealed with FEDEX label on Trunk Box to ensure the safety of the content.
Consignment Description:
Type:......Diplomatic Package.
Size:......L: W: H / 04:10:13 CM.
Weight:...0.29kg.
Colour:.....Brown.
As for our agreement with the FEDEX Courier Company they promised that your consignment will leave by next week as soon as you contact them and pay the security keeping fees.Make sure your information is correct and always remember to address the box as church evangelism Items because the courier company does not know the recall content of the package.
Best Regards,
Mrs Deborah Albert,
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