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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- onlilneteamdelivery@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "IBRAHIM LAMORDE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <onlilneteamdelivery@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 03:54:44 -0800
Subject: CONTACT (US FIRST ATLANTIC COURIER COMPANY)
This is instructions by our new President Good Luck Jonathan to delivery
your unclaimed fund to you by ATM CARD VISA CARD and it will come through
(US FIRST ATLANTIC COURIER) if you are still talking with any one about
your unclaimed fund you are advised to stop right now because your fund
has being issued by ATM VISA CARD and its deposited with (US FIRST
ATLANTIC COURIER) Company Ltd now.
You are advice to send only (US FIRST ATLANTIC COURIER) delivery charges
is $98 we will send out your ATM parcel and email you the tracking number.
I want you to send the delivery charges today through Money Gram or
Western Union to this information below and once its received your ATM
card will be sent out and the tracking number will be given to you for
picking up your package.
Send delivery charges amount $98 to this name and address below and you
are rest assured to receive your ATM CARD successfully like every other
people.
Receivers name----- EKEMEZIE INNOCENT.
Country--------------Lagos Nigeria
Text Question ------WHEN
Text Answer -------2013
Be inform that if you send your delivery charges today you will receive
your tracking number in less than 45 minutes.
Your amount in the Card is US$10.5Million and the Pin code of your ATM
CARD is: {8484} Card Number: 4848 4225 5159 6734. Try and send them the
$98 to enable them proceed with your delivery. EMAIL
(onlilneteamdelivery@gmail.com) Phone
number: +2348103523242 Name: Michael Burton
I want you to reconfirm your delivery details once you send the 98$
Thanks and God bless you
Ibrahim Lamorde
The E.F.C.C Chairman
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Anti-fraud resources:
