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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:
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- +2348028717657 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- fedhomeservice@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: raybowlites@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:43:01 +0100
Subject: Your immediate response
Do you have an account with FedEx?
There is a parcel containing an ATM instant CashCard which is to be delivered to you.We are
pleased to inform you this, you are to contact the fedEx through the person of Micheal Longoria immediately
for the delivery of the ATM CashCard worth £1.6Million Great Britain Poundsterling.
You are advise to contact them Now via the below E-mail or Phone Number for the delivery of the Parcel.
Name: Micheal Longoria (Dispatch Officer)
E-mail: fedhomeservice@gmail.com
Tel: +234-802-871-7657
Shipment Code: CPEL/OWN/6031
Parcel Number: FX0005497771
You are to re-confirm your postal address to avoid wrong delivery.
Full name......................
Home address............
Country.....................
Telephone...............
We await your urgency...........
Your Faithful.
Mrs Hannah Doe
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Anti-fraud resources:
