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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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 immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic agent" ("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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- office.office.office2007@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Lt. General Dr.James luck" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <drjamesluck@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2015 23:17:59 -0700
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY PAYMENT
CONFIDENTIAL DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY PAYMENT
ATTN:sir/madam
I am Lt. Gen Dr.James luck, National Adviser to President Muhammadu
Buhari the new president Federal Republic of Nigeria. I decided to
contact you because of the prevailing security report reaching my
office and the intense nature of polity in Nigeria.
This is to inform you about our plan to send your fund to you via cash
delivery. This system will be easier for you and for us. We are going
to send your contract/ part payment of $20Million USD to you via
courier service.
Note: The money is.coming on 2 security proof boxes. The boxes are
sealed with synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. This fund
was brought to us from America; it was meant for our Local AFEM market.
But since the money was not used, I will use my position as the
National Security Adviser to the President to send this fund to you.
Please you don't have to worry for any thing I will finance the transaction.
The boxes are coming with a Diplomatic agent who will accompany the
boxes to yourhouse address.
All you need to do now is to send to me your full house address and
your identity such as, international passport or driverslicense if
you have including your contact phone numbers, The Diplomatic attached
will travel with it.
He will call you immediately he arrivesin your country's airport. I
hope you understand me.Please know that the only money you are going
to spend is for the
dispatch and registraction of your consignment key and the original
documentany. I will let you know when the special Grace of God will
airlift the boxes.
Note: The diplomatic does not know the original contents of the
boxes.What l declared to them as the contents is Sensitive
Photographic Film Material.
I did not declare money to them please. If they call you and ask you
the contents please tell them the same thing Ok. Call me on my phone
+234-08108505083 and will let you know how far I have gone with the
arrangement. I will secure the Diplomatic immunity clearance
certificate that will be tagged on the boxes to make it stand as a
diplomatic consignment.
This clearance will make it pass every custom checkpoint all over the
world without hitch. Confirm the receipt of this message and send the
requirements to me immediately you receive this message.
Please I need urgent reply because the boxes are schedule to be as
soon as we hear from you. reply me immediately you receive this
message.(office.office.office2007@gmail.com)
Best Regards,
Lt. General Dr.James luck
National Security Adviser to the President
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