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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. )
- ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "UPS" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <upsshipment@admin.in.th>
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:46:02 -0700
Subject: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA.
United Parcel Service of America
IN REGARD TO YOUR PACKAGE FROM (UPS) UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA.
Note that we were instructed to email you, due to the high priority of your
package And everything will be taken good care by me.
I have been awaiting for you to contact me for the delivery of your MASTERCARD
WHICH WORTH TWENTY MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLAR ($20,000,000).
I want you to know that your package which worth TWENTY MILLION UNITED STATE
DOLLAR ($20,000,000) has been with us for the pass few weeks now and we are
waiting for your confirmation of message so that we can deliver the ATM CARD to
you.
Due to the distance between your residential address and our office here in
Nigeria there are only two ways your MASTERCARD package can get to you and this
include all back up document to secure it during shipment.
Below are the TWO OPTION needed for you to get your package.
OPTION ONE: YOU NEED TO TRAVEL TO NIGERIA AND GET THE PACKAGE IN OUR OFFICE
OR
OPTION TWO: THE PACKAGE WILL BE SHIPPED TO YOU THROUGH UPS SECURE SERVICE AND
YOU WILL BE REPONSIBLE FOR THE SHIPPING CHARGE FEE.
My advice to you now is to chose the shipping option to prevent you for wasting
your time and money.
The charge fee required to enable a secure shipment to you is $75 only and this
include the security keeping charge fee.
If you prefered the shipping service get back to me so i can send you the
required details you will need to send the charge fee $70 via western union so
shipment can commence once the charge fee is received.
AWAIT YOUR REPLY.
UPS INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY DEPARTMENT
12 DENLOT STREET.
IKEJA,LAGOS
NIGERIA
HEAD MANAGER
MR DANIEL A. MARIO
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Anti-fraud resources:
