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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. )
- "stamp duty" (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: UPS COURIER COMPANY <phonson.marion@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: upscouriercomp@qatar.io
Date: Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:26:22 +0200
Subject: UPS COURIER COMPANY FOR YOUR COMSIGNMENT
GOOD-DAY!
I've cashed your draft/cheque in worth of .5 Million USD for your overdue
payments,due to the expiry I boxed the money and deposited with shipment of
UPS COURIER to deliver the boxed to you,to avoid another hoax as you were
disappointed in the past, because I travelled to Dubai to see my boss and
will not come back till next month end.You have to contact the UPS DELIVERY
COMPANY here in Benin Republic to know when they will deliver your BOX.I
have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee.The only money you
have to send to them is there coverage papers fee and the official stamp
duty fee to received your box,I would have paid that but they said no
because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of
demurrage,So all you have to do is to Contact the Director UPS DELIVERY
COMPANY Benin Republic.
CONTACT PERSON: DR ROBERT DAVID.
EMAIL:(upscouriercomp@qatar.io)
Tel/Fax: +229-9898-0737
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the
security
keeping fee. I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm
it to them as below:
Your Full Name----------------
Your Address------------------
Tel---------------------
Age---------------------
ID----------------------
Your Box registration number is as follows(EM 9907439)and make sure you
indicate that to avoid complication.
Regards,
Mr Phonson Usman
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Anti-fraud resources:
