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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- dhl24hrs@mynet.com (Mynet, Turkey; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "24HRS Express" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dhl24hrs@mynet.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 09:53:20 +0200
Subject:
Good day Sir/Ma,
Every Month a random email is selected from all webmail
database around the world to select a winner for the Monthly
2009 Email Lottery and your email was selected as the
winner of the October 2009 Email Lottery, You have won the
total sum of $99,000.00 (Ninety Nine Thousand US dollars)
Your Cheque has been sent through DHL courier All shipping
fees for your cheque has been paid for including the Tax but
we could not pay the security keeping fee of $49 because we
did not know when u would be contacted. All you have to do
is contact DHL courier Service and make the Payment of the
security keeping fee which is $49. You will not be required
to pay any other amount aside the $49.00 please contact:
dhl24hrs@mynet.com immediately. to have your
cheque delivered in 48hrs.
Mr Robert Brown.
dhl24hrs@mynet.com
DHL Director Of Operations.
United Kingdom.
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Anti-fraud resources:
