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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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (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.
- 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.
- mailpostoffice1369@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: POST OFFICE <cunitedstate@gmail.com>
Reply-To: post1369@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:58:58 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Your Package Registration Code 5421
FROM REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE BENIN.
POST OFFICE
ADDRESS: BARNES ROAD P.O
BOX12720.
COTONOU
BENIN
REPUBLIC.
ATTENTION
BENEFICIARY
THIS IS TO INFORM
YOU THAT THERE IS AN CONSIGNMENT
BOX IN THIS OFFICE THAT IS DEPOSITED BY A PRIVATE
ORGANIZATION BODY ON THE 4th OF THIS MONTH.
YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WAS
ATTACHED TO IT AND IS TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO
CONTACT US FOR YOUR CONFORMABLE PACKAGE WHICH CONTAINS THE SUM OF USD
$2.5, MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS AND SOME VITAL
DOCUMENTS.
SO KINDLY GET BACK TO THIS OFFICE (REGULAR MAIL POST OFFICE
BENIN REPUBLIC) TO AVOID FRAUDULENT ISSUES CONCERNING THIS SERVICE.
YOU
ARE TO CONFIRM AND PROVIDE TO US YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS BELOW.
YOUR FULL
NAME..........
YOUR COUNTRY............
YOUR CITY...............
YOUR
ADDRESS.....
YOUR DIRECT PHONE........
NOTE: THAT YOU ARE TO PAY FOR THE SECURITY KEEPING FEE OF $95USD.
YOU ARE ADVISE TO SEND THE SECURITY KEEPING FEE THROUGH WESTERN
UNION TO THE POST OFFICE WITH THE OUR PRACTICAL OFFICER'S NAME BELOW AND
FORWARD THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO THE POST OFFICE IMMEDIATE
STAMP OF YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX.
RECEIVER'S NAME...... UDE
FRANCIS.
COUNTRY.....BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY....COTONOU
QUESTION....TRUST
ANSWER.....GOD
AMOUNT......$95USD
SENDER'S
NAME........?
NOTE: THAT EVERY CLAIMS HAS AN EXPIRING PERIOD OF SEVEN
WORKING DAYS (7DAYS) SO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT VERY URGENT TO AVOID
EXPIRATION.
THANKS
YOUR BEST REGARD'S,
SIR EVERAST HADIN
mailpostoffice1369@yahoo.fr
TELEPHONE NUMBER
+22998892244
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Anti-fraud resources:
