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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:
- "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. )
- "lagos" (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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "James B. Comey" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <accountverification@dr.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2015 14:47:35 -1100
Subject: $95 Only 18 hours diplomat Delivery today From............AGENT STANLEY.
Director James B. Comey, IV
Senior Office Department
Federal Bureau Of Investigation FBI.WASHINGTON DC
Know More About Me: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/executives/director.
ABIDE TO MY INSTRUCTION AND ADVICE AND TRY YOUR BEST TO SEND THE CHARGE FEE REQUIRED TODAY TO AVOID MORE DELAY CHARGE FEE.
I want to use this means to let you know that it is good to faith and also show
concern and seriousness to an important transaction like this because i have
done the best i can to make sure everything is done and a safe secure delivery
occurs once the required charge fee to enable the delivery is paid.
You have spent a lot toward this transaction and you need to recover all you
have spent all this while that while i seek the assistant of the U.S Embassy in
Nigeria to enable the success and complete this transaction with the help of the
Embassy Official agent Mr. Stanley Nelson.
YOUR VISA CREDIT CARD WHICH CONTAIN $20 MILLION USD AND THE 2ND CONTAIN A VERIFIED BANK OF AMERICA CASHIER CHECK WHICH CONTAIN $3 MILLION USD WITH ALL BACK UP DOCUMENT EVERYTHING WAS MADE IN YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND THE PACKAGE INCLUDE AN INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO MAKE WITHDRAW WORLD WIDE AND ALSO CASH-OUT THE CHECK WITHIN 20 HOURS BECAUSE IT IS VERIFIED CASHIER CHECK.
Mr. Stanley is coming to the airport close to your city on an official duties and
he will act as your diplomat and delivered your package to you and this is the
best delivery option which will provide security to your package.
The only fee delaying the delivery now is the charge fee to pay the Airport
Insurance safe keep delivery department for the safe keeping service render to
your package all this while and the fee is $95 only.
Mr Stanley is not happy with you because i instruct him to act as your diplomat
and your lack of co-operation delay his official duties he need to do attend to.
Hope you understand.
There is no much time left and i want you to abide to my instruction once you
receive this email and send the required charge fee to enable the delivery of
your package once the payment is received.
Use the details below to send the fee $95 via western union to the U.S embassy
official agent Mr. Nelson Stanley once you receive this email so everything can
come to an end.
RECEIVER NAME: STANLEY NELSON
ADDRESS: 12 EMBASSY STREET
CITY: LAGOS
STATE: LAGOS
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
ZIP CODE: 23401
TEXT QUESTION: LAND OF
ANSWER: HOPE
Once payment is made get back to me with the required payment confirmation
details so i can forward it to him and i will instruct him to board the next
available flight.
Await your reply and the required payment confirmation details.
Director James B. Comey, IV
Senior Office Department
Federal Bureau Of Investigation FBI.WASHINGTON DC
Know More About Me: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/executives/director
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This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.
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Anti-fraud resources:
