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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:
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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.
- willgolfs@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR John Hill" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <willgolfs@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 16:49:02 +0200
Subject: CONTACT SHALOM DIPLOMATIC COMPANY
Dear Beneficiary,
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Draft USD$1.8M (ONE AND EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) but did not hear from you since that time ,then I went and deposited the Draft with Shalom Express deliver company here in Benin Republic , For I have travelled out to see my boss and will not come back till the end of next month . You have to contact the Shalom
Express deliver company to know when they will deliver your package.
I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee.The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee which is $175.00 Us Dollars to received your package.Don't be deceived by any body.Below is their Contact Address;
ATTN: DR WILLIAM GOLFS
EMAIL: ( willgolfs@gmail.com )
Please, Send them your contacts information to able them locate you immediately they arrived in your country with your BOX .You are to contact the Courier Company with the following informations..
1. Full Name
2. Phone And Fax Number
3. Address (P.O Box Not Acceptable)
4. Attach Copy Of Your Identification
AS SOON AS THEY CONFIRM THE REQUIRED INFORMATION THEY WILL DIRECT YOU ON HOW YOU ARE GOING TO SEND THE REQUIRED FEE $175 FOR IMMEDIATE DESPATCH OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT.
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping fee.
SHIPMENT CODE AWB 33XZS
PACKAGE REGISTERED CODE NO XGT442.
SECURITY CODE SCTC/2001DHX/567/
TRANSACTION CODE 233/CSTC/101/33028/
CERTIFICATE DEPOSIT CODE SCTC/BUN/xxiv/-78/01
REGARDS,
MR John Hill
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Anti-fraud resources:
