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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:
- "clearance document" (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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "million us dollars" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: MR ABU BELLO <abubello@live.com>
Reply-To: mr.abubello@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 17:05:45 +0400
Subject: PAYMENT BY CASH DELIVERY
ATTENTION:- BENEFICIARY,
THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR FUNDS HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE INTO YOUR NOMINATED ACCOUNT BUT WE CAN NOT TRANSFER
THIS FUNDS $15.5MILLION US DOLLARS DIRECTLY TO YOUR NOMINATED BANK
ACCOUNT, BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND (IMF) SO OUR METHOD OF PAYMENT IS BY OUR DELIVERY AGENT
TO DELIVER THE FUND TO YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS.
NOTE:- THAT EVERY ARRANGEMENT REGARDING YOUR CASH PAYMENT THROUGH CASH
DELIVERY HAS BEEN MADE, NOTE ALSO THAT YOUR FUNDS HAS BEEN PACKAGED
LIKE A CONSIGNMENT.
BE INFORMED THAT OUR SPECIAL DELIVERY AGENT HAS TO OFFICIALLY ASSIGN
ONE OR TWO OF ITS OFFICERS/DELIVERY AGENT DOWN TO YOUR COUNTRY IN
ORDER TO DELIVER THE CONSIGNMENT AT YOUR DOORSTEP.
WE WANT YOU TO SEND YOUR DIRECT MOBILE PHONE AND YOUR RESIDENTIAL
ADDRESS, ID-CARD OR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT TO US IMMEDIATELY, SO THAT
AS SOON AS THE DELIVERY AGENT ARRIVE IN YOUR COUNTRY THEY SHALL CALL
YOU IMMEDIATELY TO NOTIFY YOU OFFICIALLY OF THEIR ARRIVAL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVE YOUR DETAILS INFORMATION TO ENABLE US
SECURE THE CLEARANCE DOCUMENT FROM FEDERAL HIGH COMMISSION IN YOUR
NAME BEFORE THE DELIVERY AGENT WILL MOVE THE FUND TO YOUR HOUSE.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR ABU BELLO
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Anti-fraud resources:
