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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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 us 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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (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.
- 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 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.
- dhl.expreeoffice@yahoo.co.nz (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DHL. EXPRESS" <carecustomers942@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dhl.expreeoffice@yahoo.co.nz
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2012 08:40:05 +0800
Subject: ATTN.Dear Valued Customer
Attention: Dear,
This is instructions by our new President Good Luck Jonathan to delivery your unclaimed
fund of $5.6Million US Dollars to you by ATM CARD and it will come through (Dhl Express)
if you are still talking with any one about your unclaimed fund you are advised to stop
right now because your fund has being issued by ATM DEBIT CARD and its deposited with
(DHL) Courier Company Ltd now.
You are advice to send only (Dhl Express) delivery charges and that is all no more
yellow tag paper no more custom clearance again once you paid only (DHL) delivery fee
which is $50 we will send out your ATM parcel and email you the tracking number.
If you want to see a proof then type www.dhl.com and then track this number (2282232573)
(2282232175) (2282232186) (2282232422) and see that this one has being successful
delivery to the receiver you are advise to send your delivery charges today through
Money Gram or Western Union to this information below and once its received your ATM
card will be sent out and the tracking number will be given to you for picking up your
package.
Send delivery charges amount $50 to this name and address below and you are rest assured
to receive your ATM CARD successfully like every other people.
Receivers name----- Ezeoba Ikwunne.
Country--------------Lagos Nigeria
Text Question ------What
Text Answer -------New
E_MAIL(dhl.expreeoffice@yahoo.co.nz)
Be inform that if you send your delivery charges today you will receive your tracking
number in less than 45 minutes.
Best Regards.
michael burton.
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Anti-fraud resources:
