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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:
- "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.
- agentmrterry.white@rocketmail.com (Rocketmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: DIPLOMATIC MR TERRY WHITE <terry.white@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: agentmrterrywhite48@rocketmail.com
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2013 12:32:04 +0800 (CST)
Subject: DIPLOMATIC MR TERRY WHITE Here is my cell phone to contact me.((4084981084)
Am
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
$1.4million usa dollars which I have been instructed by UPS DIPLOMATIC
COURIER SERVICE to be delivered to you. The Airport authority demanded
for all the legal back up 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 papers 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 $95
Dollars only to get the two tags 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 in the 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 is
the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.
reconfirm the following informations below so that i can deliver
yourconsignment box to you today.
NAME: ====================
ADDRESS: =====================
MOBILE NO.:=======================
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT:================
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION :==================
You
can direct the tag fee to our Head Office in Benin Republic UPS as they
will get the tags 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.((4084981084) clicks here to
know the area where I am at
http://www.visitingdc.com/airports/lax-airport-address.asp So you have
to contact me with this email address
(agentmrterry.white@rocketmail.com)
RCEIVER NAME....MBANEFOR BASIL,
COUNTRY .......... BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY ....................... COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION ........ A
TEXT ANSWERE ........ B
AMOUNT..................$95 USD
SENDER NAME
MTCN
After
sending the payment to Our Head Office in Benin Repulic UPS email me
the payment information such as mtcn number also senders name text
question and answer to enable me reach them with the payment details so
they can get the tags obtain and Fax it to me one hand so i can make my
next step to your address today due to the Yellow Tags of the boxes is
my only delay now .Here Is Your Package Unlocking CODE(AWB33XZS Urgent
Response is needed because here is very busy and hot
Email me :(agentmrterry.white@rocketmail.com)
Regard
DIPLOMATIC MR TERRY WHITE
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