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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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- ",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)
- "lagos" (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.
- 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.
- 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: "DHL DELIVERY COMPANY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <henry111@blumail.org>
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2011 16:34:29 -0400
Subject: I await your urgent response....
Hello Friend,
Good day to you and your family, first i will like to welcome you to a time of uplifting for you and your family because this is a news and information that will change your life for ever.
However Honorable Parkson Amora asks me to contact you that is why i have been trying to send you this email for the past three days Now. He told me to tell you that your compensation check of One million United states dollars ( 1,000,000:00 ) is available for you to cash as soon as you get it. The check was given to me by Mr. Parkson Amora before he traveled to Australia for Vacation. Since i have been putting this in place for the delivery of your check to you in your Country.
I have deliver your check to the delivery company that will be responsible for the delivery of your check, Mr. Parkson Amora unable to take care of the delivery fee of the Check before he left on His vacation. So go ahead and contact the delivery company via the delivery agent on Phone and email.
Delivery Company Information:
Company Name: DHL DELIVERY COMPANY
Agent Name: Agent Mr. Heny Jackson
Email: henry111@blumail.org
Phone: +2347084893187.
I have decided to send you an email now because they said it is 2days delivery after the payment of $70 have been confirm by them.
Here is the information for Western Union Money Transfer.
Sender's Name...............
Sender's Address..................
Receivers Name: Paul Akin
Receivers Address: Lagos - Nigeria.
Text Question: What Colour?
Text Answer: Yellow.
Amount: - $70
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN).
As soon as you contact him i want you to email me. Your parcel is in good hands and is ready for delivery.
Regards
Mr. Parkson Amora
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Anti-fraud resources:
