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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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- +447031820506 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "FEDEX COURIER SERVICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fedex_customercare@shipping-dept.net>
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:40:09 -0800
Subject: Your £850,000 Funds Transfer Alert.
FedEx Courier Service!!!
Dear Esteem Customer,
A Bank Draft of £850,000 GBP was deposited at our Courier Department located at South London Uk few months ago. Your name and e-mail contact was attached to this Draft for us to contact you for delivery.
Due to security measure we can not disclose more information on your draft. Please get back to us for more details regarding this draft in our possession by clicking REPLY on your email and write back to us to confirm you are the owner of this E-mail Address.
Thank You.
Mr. Mike Thomson.
FedEx Courier Delivery & Security Programmed Officer.
Tel: +447031820506.
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Anti-fraud resources:
