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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)
- 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.
- superpolicy@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: AMBASSADOR MATHEW WEST <wilks.2011@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: superpolicy@superposta.com
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:40:50 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE
GOOD DAY TO YOU, THIS IS AMBASSADOR MATHEW WEST OF UNITED NATION, I AM EMAILING YOU TO CONFIRM TO YOU THAT YOUR FUND DELIVERY TO YOUR DOORSTEP HAS BEEN APPROVED DURING OUR LAST MEETING FEW DAYS AGO AT NEW YORK AND I HAVE BEEN APPOINTED ALONG WITH AMBASSADOR PAUL SMITH TO PERSONAL HANDLE THE DELIVERY OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT TO YOUR ADDRESS WITHOUT STRESS OR ANY PAYMENT BEEN REQUIRE FROM YOU AS UNITED NATION AND WORLD BANK ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMED ENSURE THAT THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS BACKING YOUR FUND IS UPDATED AND SIGNED PROPERLY SO THAT IT WILL MEET UP WITH THE CUSTOMS LAW OF BRING SUCH FUND INTO YOUR COUNTRY.
AS THE LEADING AMBASSADOR HANDLING YOUR PAYMENT DELIVERY TO YOU IT IMPERATIVE ME TO INFORM YOU THAT WE SHALL POSSIBLY DEPART TO YOUR COUNTRY WITH OUR OFFICIAL FLIGHT AS INSTRUCTED FOR THE FINAL DELIVERY OF YOUR FUND TO YOU THIS WEEK BUT BEFORE WE COMMENCE THE DELIVERY YOU MUST REFURNISH US YOUR ADDRESS ONCE AGAIN AS OUTLINE BELOW TO ENSURE NO MISTAKE AS WELL BE AWARE THAT YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CLEARANCE OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT FROM THE HOMELAND SECURITY WHEN IT ARRIVE TO YOUR COUNTRY BUT WE CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE CHARGE IS LOW AS UNITED NATION AND WORLD BANK ASSISTANCE HAS AGREE TO ASSIST YOU GET YOUR FUND WITHOUT PROBLEM.
REFURNISH THIS INFORMATION VERY FAST AND CONFIRM YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CLEAR YOUR WELL SEALED CONSIGNMENT FUND FROM UN.
YOUR FULL NAME..
NATIONALITY..
CURRENT LOCATION..
CELL PHONE NUMBER ONLY..
YOUR RELIGION..
AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION WE THE AMBASSADORS HANDLING YOUR CONSIGNMENT FUND SHIPMENT TO YOU SHALL FURNISH YOU A COPY OF OUR ID AND FLYING TIME SO YOU WILL NOT BE TAKEN UNAWARE.
URGENT RESPONSE AND COOPERATION REQUIRE PLEASE.
THANKS
UNITED NATION/ WORLD BANK ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMED.
SIGNED
AMBASSADOR MATHEW WEST LEADING OFFICER
DIRECT MIL ID> superpolicy@superposta.com
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