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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. )
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- duck000080@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "UN. British High Commision" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <duck000080@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:55:50 -0400
Subject: Re: Contact the Fedex Courier delivery Immediately.
Good Day Beneficary
I have been Waiting for you to contact me for your conformable bank draft
of $1Million dollars that has been issued out to you by the senate
committee of Nigeria.As part of the Nigerian Government fund scheme to
compensate all foreigners that has been fraud in one way or the other by
Nigerians. But I have not heard from you. I will be traveling down to New
Zealand and will not be back till November.
I have dropped your draft with fedex west Africa contact them for
delivery. I have paid for the delivery and the Insurance charges.put you
have to pay the security keeping fee of $250 which also serves as
dumurage.you are to provide them your full complete details bellow.
Name: Mr.Donald Duck
Email:duck000080@yahoo.com
Name:
Address:
Telephone Number:
Occupation:
County:
The above information should be send to the Fedex Office for immediate
delivery.
Have a blessed Day
Yours in Service
Wayne R Robinson
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Anti-fraud resources:
