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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- mspassociation@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mspassociation@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:14:13 +0100
Subject: Get PAID to SHOP
...........
Hello There!,
You have been selected for an assignment as a Mystery Shopper. You will earn $300 being a mystery shopper. Your employment packet will include funds for the shopping, a training assignment which will be sent to you after you receive payment for the assignment. A Pay check would be sent to you for the assignment in the form of a Check or Money Order. The pay check would be in a certain amount which you would be required to cash a your bank, deduct your salary, and have the rest used for the evaluation at the store that would be given to you to evaluate.
Get back with the following details if interested.
Full Name:
Full Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Phone Number:
Nationality:
Alternative Email Address:
Email the above details to: mspassociation@aol.com
As a mystery shopper you work and shop together for pleasure and the pay is $300 weekly on Part time basis, You only work 2-3hours twice in a week. Do get back to the recruiting department of Mystery Shopper Provider Association (MSPA).
THANK YOU
James Bradson
HEAD OF RECRUITMENT
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Anti-fraud resources: