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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (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.
- 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.
- postal.delivery@post.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Connie May <conniemay@turk.tc>
Reply-To: postal.delivery@post.com
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:21:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Urgent Notice !!
Dear Friend,
This is Connie May, I have registered your Bank Draft to the POST OFFICE BENIN so that they will Post it to your home address and i believe your current address is still the same. Your total amount in the envelope is USD$500.000.00 and the POST OFFICE assured me that there will be no stoppage until it get to your hand. I want you to contact them and re-confirm your address where to Post it.
Contact Mr. Abou Kodjo
03 BP 1000,COTONOU
BENIN REPUBLIC.
E-mail: postal.delivery@post.com
Mr. Abou Kodjo, informed me that it will take good 3 days to get to your house and your Envelope acumulate cost of USD$47.99. as postal charges. Your Current address have to be reconfirmed when contacting the post office. Call me at 00229 9872 6119 as soon as you receive your Envelope.
Thank You.
Connie May
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Anti-fraud resources:
