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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 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.
- 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: "Mrs.Goodness Obed." <mrvanmary@cantv.net>
Reply-To: dhl_benin@ovi.com
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:15:54 -0430 (VET)
Subject: We have registered your ATM CARD
We succeeded in registering Your ATM CARD valued of $850.000.00 usd with DHL Express Courier Company to ensure that they complete the delivery of your atm card this week or by next week.Your to contact them with your current delivery informations
Here is the contact informations of DHL OFFICE:
Name of Dir: Daniel Roland .
E-mail: dhl_benin@ovi.com
Tel:+229-97823114
Base on the charges involve for the delivery,we have paid for their Insurance & Delivery fee.The only fee you have to pay them is their Security only.Please indicate the registration Number of ( 011-827-8947 ) to them when contacting and ask them how much is their delivery fee so that you can pay the money to them and remember not to pay any order money after paying their delivery fee.
Best Regards,Mrs.Goodness Obed.
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Anti-fraud resources:
