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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:
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
- unitedparcelservice51@yahoo.com.au (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mac William <office.filly@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: unitedparcelservice51@yahoo.com.au
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 02:51:30 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: How are you today?
How are you today?
I am very happy to let you know that I have been able to work out a
new way to which you will receive this your package box and as it may
interest you to know I have been able to get in contact with a Diplomat agent from United Parcel Service company who is going to deliver the package containing that (USD$1,500,000.00)
to your door step and as I made the plan he will be delivering a
consignment to you and the content of the consignment will be (USD$1,500,000.00) although I did not revel to him about the content
of the consignment because I simply told him that the content of the
consignment is your personal belongings.
 Therefore at this point I wish to know your readiness to receive
this consignment as you will be required to reconfirm your receiving
address and phone number once more so that I will make sure that I gave him your correct address to avoid any mistake about the delivery.
you can a hold of them to verify to yourself.
Their contact info is as below.
Mr moris kelly
Dispatching manager
Email unitedparcelservice51@yahoo.com.au
Tel phone +229-9965-0419
They are Waiting to hear from you soon about this and don’t fail to indicate your direct and current phone number as well.
Thanks
best regards.
Mac William
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Anti-fraud resources:
