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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: FASTWAY DELIVERY SERVICE <fastwaycourierdeliverservice@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:35:19 +0000
Subject: FASTWAY COURIER SERVICE
WELCOME TO FASTWAY COURIER COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC.
<http://www.fastway.ie/11HomepageGeneric.html><http://www.fastway.ie/11HomepageGeneric.html><http://www.fastway.ie/11HomepageGeneric.html>
FASTWAY COURIER SECURITY COMPANY
Contact: Mr.Daniel Ife.
Address: Avenue Stermetz Rue 1255
Porto novo of Benin Republic.
Tel: +22999957514
Attention: Dear Valued Customer,
With regards to your Atm Card deposited in our Company by Mr Peter John from
Bank of African here in Benin Republic, I wish to inform you that
instructions was passed to our company to commence with the delivery of your
ATM Card as soon as you contacted us and reconfirm your current delivery
address.
We have finalize the delivery arrangement and will forward the tracking
details to you as soon as it is dispatched to you.
Meanwhile we can not commence on the delivery without our delivery fee of
your Atm Card which $69.00usd, for the delivery fee and that is what will
delayA your Atm Card not to leave this country tomorrow and we can not
commence on the delivery without having the delivery fee first and it is
$69.00usd only.
================================================================================================you are to send our delivery fee of just $69.00usd with this information
bellow through western union money transfer for easy confirmation and
immediate delivery of your atm card.
Receiver::::::::::::::::::Mr.Chukwuma C.Samuel
Country:::::::::::::::::Benin Republic
City::::::::::::::::::::::::Porto Novo
Questions::::::::::::::how long?
Answer:::::::::::::::::2days
Amount::::::::::::::::$69.00usd
Sender's Name:::::
M.T.C.N::::::::::::::::
We will forward the tracking number of your package as soon as we got
everything done.
Please remember to reconfirm your mailing address to me again to avoid
wrong delivery okay.
I will be waiting for your call as soon as you get this email for your
delivery update.
Thanks we await for your urgent response.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr.Daniel Ife.
Tel: +22999957514
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Anti-fraud resources:
