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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:
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "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)
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (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 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.
- diplomatic.mrterrywhite@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DIPLOMATIC" <officefile034@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diplomatic.mrterrywhite@rocketmail.com
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 06:29:46 -0400
Subject: I am agent Mr Terry White :(559)-372-6901
DEAR,
I¡¯m DIPLOMATIC MR TERRY WHITE I have been trying to reach you on your
telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival in
Los Angeles International Airport. Address: One World Way. City: Los Angeles
CA, (US) with your two boxes of consignment worth $7.9million usa dollars
which I have been instructed by NEBRO DIPLOMATIC COURIER SERVICE to be
delivered to you. The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up
papers to prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money,
I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased
with the paper¡¯s I presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here
is the airport delivery Tag which is not placed on the boxes, one of the
Airport Authority has advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can exit
the airport immediately and make my delivery successful .I try to reason with
them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us just $105 Dollars only to
get the two tag placed on the boxes as that tag will enable me get to your
house successfully without any interference,they scanned the boxes and found
out that the fund is 100 % spend able and accepted by any bank inthe whole world.
as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to
take care of in Bank ok. Here are the papers backing the funds together with
my ID CARD as I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit the fund
successfully with these papers. I have i more vital paper with me but I can
only present you the hard copy when I reach your house as that it¡¯s the
diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.
You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get it here for you
and they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countries
authority. DIPLOMATIC MR TERRY WHITE Here is my cell phone to contact
me.(559)-372-6901 clicks here to know the area where I am
athttp://www.visitingdc.com/airports/lax-airport-address.asp So you have to
contact me with this email address (diplomatic.mrterrywhite@rocketmail.com)
RCEIVER NAME....MR.NDIVE S JUNIOR
COUNTRY .......... BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY ....................... COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION ........ A
TEXT ANSWERE ........ B
AMOUNT..................$105 USD
SENDER NAME
MTCN
after sendung the payment to Federal Ministry of Justice Benin Repulic email
me the payment information such as mtcn numer also senders name text question
and answer to enable me reach Fedeeal Ministry of Justice with the payument
details.
Regard
DIPLOMATIC MR TERRY WHITE
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Anti-fraud resources:
