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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:
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "activation 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. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC" <email_contact@sify.com>
Reply-To: dhldeliveryexpresservice@dhlexpressservices.co.cc
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 11:45:55 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: GOOD DAY
This is to bring to your notice that we register your ATM CARD with DHL
Deriver Company and I have paid the re-activation fee and the delivery of
your ATM Card. Is paid it because the ATM Card (code 8119) $4.5m, the
money will go into Government purse. With that I decided to help you pay
the money so that, government will not cancel your fund , because I know
when you get your ATM Card definitely you must pay me back my money and
even compensate me for helping you.
Now I want you to contact DHL DELIVERY SERVICE with your Full Contact
information so that they can deliver your Card to your destination address
without any delay. Like I stated earlier, the delivery charges has been
paid but I did not pay their security official keeping fees since they
refused. They refused and the reason is that they do not know when you are
going to contact them and demurrage might have increase. They told me that
their keeping fees cost $105. Below is their Contact Information,
Contact Person: Mr. Tony Walter
Email:: dhldeliveryexpresservice@dhlexpressservices.co.cc
Tell phone Number: +229-93561738
TO Contact Today to avoid increase of their keeping fees and let me
know once you receive you’re Card.
Best Regards.
JERRY J. IBEZIM
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Anti-fraud resources:
