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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:
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- mccaulleyterence@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "googleservice@terra.es" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <HELLO>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:18:00 +0100
Subject: HELLO
Us ambassador office
11 Garik road Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria
+234-8036810298.
Dear Beneficiary,
From the us ambassador to Nigeria
`
Be informed that i have resolved with the Nigeria foreign remittance department to deliver
the sum of us$5.5m being the accrued interest from your contract/inheritance fund.
i shall be coming to your Country for an official meeting by next week and i will be
bringing your consignment containing the fund which has been packaged and sealed in your
favor but this time i will not go through customs because as a usa ambassador to Nigeria, i
am a us government agent and i have the veto power to go through customs. I am scheduled to
have a brief meeting with the secretary of states by next week.
Send your mobile cell p and
My trip will be by mid week and i expect you to comply before then so that the delivery can
be completed. it is very important you comply to enable me delivery your fund to your
address.
Treat as urgent,
Mr Terence P Mccaulley
Send your reply to my private email at :mccaulleyterence@yahoo.co.uk
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