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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (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.
- abraham.chukwu@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Abraham Chukwu <abraham.chukwu@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 03:30:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: This is Agent Abraham Chukwu carrying your Package from United parcels Service
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UNITED PARCEL SERVICE (UPS)
Diplomatic Courier Services
Email: abraham.chukwu@yahoo.com
Dear Customer ,
This is Agent Abraham Chukwu carrying your Package from United parcels Service. I was at the address that was giving to me as your house address today with your package, but the parson I saw in that apartment said that they don’t know who you are and they made me to know that they are new tenant in that building, she said maybe you are the parson that was occupying that apartment before. To avoid going back with your package, I decided to go back the the hotel close to the Airport just to hang around and contact you trough email to know if there is any alternative to deliver your package to you before Traveling Back.
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Please As soon as you read this mail contact me immediately with this email above, to enable me know if I can locate you and deliver your Package containing an ATM CARD to you before traveling back.
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Kind regards
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Mr. Abraham Chukwu
United parcels Service AgentÂ
Email: abraham.chukwu@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
