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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:
- "courier service" (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.
- 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_courierservice07@superposta.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Leonard Williams <leonardwilliams88@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: dhl_courierservice07@superposta.com
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:28:07 +0100 (BST)
Subject: your winning Price of $6.5 Million usd
This is to remind you of your winning Price of $6.5 Million usd is deposited with United Bank for Africa { U.B.A} .This your cash $2.5 Million usd was registered with your name as the beneficiary, by a United Nation Official. This Fund is a Winning price to you from the recent United Nation wealth distribution program through e-mails balloting . We the Board of Directors of United bank for Africa has converted this cash into ATM CARD for easy delivery since you have no account with us and registered it with DHL Courier Service {DHL} today.
Now You have the permission of Mr Mark Jones the manager of United Bank for Africa, to contact Dhl Courier Service with the below information for the delivery of this card.
Contact Person....... Mr.Harrison Walter.
E-mail...............dhl_courierservice07@superposta.com
CELL....... +229 987 427 88
Call Mr.Harrison Walter. as soon as you send him your details. Note: All contact are to be made within few Hours of this mail to enhance urgent service On delivery.You are to reconfirm your Postal address and telephone number for urgent service:
DHL Do not Deliver P.O.Box
Full Name:................
Address:..................
City......................
Phone:.....................
Country:....................
A copy of your identity card..........
Endeavor to send the above information to the Delivery Department of DHL with delivery fee to the company's accountant, and ask him to send you the shipment instruction and the tracking number for the delivery and don't forget to contact with your registration number which is Reg.# R-226754449001400.
Yours Faithfully,
Mr Leonard Williams.
Customer service Department U.B.A
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Anti-fraud resources:
