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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:
- "demurrages " (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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "million 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)
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "god-fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "sulemanabdul@gmx.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Suleman Abdul" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sulemankhadijah@gmx.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2011 20:55:41 +0100
Subject: Please Respond Urgently..
Need Your Care.................. !!!!
Greetings from Accra - Ghana
I would love for you to help me and my younger sister; we are looking a God-fearing person. Let me introduce myself to you. My name is Suleman Abdul and my younger sister is Kadijah Abdul from Liberia, my consignment containing $18 million dollars is in the United States. The consignment was to be delivering to Mr.Mark smith .
The consignments are presently in States. The consignment gets to States through the help of a U.N diplomat Dr.Peter Iwiri. When he got to the States after clearing the consignment from the Airport, he called Mr. Mark Smith to give him the description to is house for the delivery, but his house maid answered the call and told Dr.Peter Iwiri Mr. Mark Smith hard a cancer (Leukemia) which lead to his death some few hours later.
Mr.Mark Smith has already paid the demurrages from the security company, he paid for Bullion van that took the consignment to the airport and he paid for custom check report he also assisted us in getting the paper work covering the consignment. Dr.Peter Iwiri has to deposit the consignment with a safe storage warehouse in the States and called us to inform us about what is happening.
Please I and my sister seek for your assistant; I want you to stand as our God parent / beneficiary to retrieve the consignment from the diplomat. Please when you call the diplomat you will tell him that you are calling in respect of Suleman Abdul and her sister consignment that is in States. Let him know that you have discussed with us immediately.
Please, contact the Diplomat on time and get back to me through mail.
I await your urgent response.
Thanks and God bless you.
Suleman Abdul And Kadijah Abdul
Email: sulemanabdul@gmx.com
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