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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:
- "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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- 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: Mr LARRY JOHN <westernu749@gmail.com>
Reply-To: unitedparcel1@w.cn
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 13:11:50 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Mr LARRY JOHN
ATTN:PAYMENT NOTIFICATION!
This is to bring to your notice that, I have
paid the courier charges and the delivery of your ATM CARD.I paid it
because the ATM CARD worth $800.000.00 USD has less three weeks and
four days to expire and when it expires the money will go into Government
reserve.With that I decided to help you pay the money so that the ATM CARD
will not expire,because I know when you get your ATM CARD definitely you
must compensate me.
Now your ATM CARD has been deposited with UPS Courier Company for
delievry so i want you to contact Ups Courier Company with your Full
Contact informations so that they can deliver your ATM CARD to your
designated address without any delay. Like i stated earlier, The delivery
charges has been paid but i did not pay their official keeping fees since they refused...Reasons for their refusal is because they do not know when you are going to contact them. They told me that their keeping fee is $43per day and i deposited it yesterday this week .
Below is their Contact Informations,
Contact Person: Mr LARRY JOHN
Contact phone number is +229 99131677
UPS Courier and Security Company
Email:()
Contact Today to avoid increase of their keeping fees and let me know once
you receive your ATM CARD.
The addition fees was caculated $86 today,and note that fail to do so today another $43 will be adding by tomorrow and bear it in your mind that the addition $43must be continusly adding every blessed day.
Here is the information you can use to send the $86 today and remember that it will be $129 by tomorrow when you fail to do so today okay.
1. Receiver Name:: :Ikwunne O Anthony
2Country. /City: Benin Republic./Cotonou
3. Question:::: When
4. Answer:::::: Today.
5. Amount::::: US$86.00
6.MTCN=====
7.Sender's Name
Waiting to hear from you as soon as you received this mail
Yours Sincerly ,
Mr LARRY JOHN
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