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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:
- "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. )
- 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_express09@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Anthony Ekeh" <off.file@adinet.com.uy>
Reply-To: dhl_express09@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 11:07:43 -0300 (UYT)
Subject: Attention Pls,
Attention Pls,
How are you today? we been waiting to hear from you reading the delivery of
your ATM Card contains US$5.6 Million USD, So due to we did not hear from you
concern the delivery of your ATM Card.
Then i went to DHL Express Delivery and deposit your ATM Card for them to
deliver it to you, you have to contact DHL Delivery with bellow information so
that they will deliver your Card package to you and forward them your
information where they will deliver your Card.
Your Full Name /
Home Address/
Direct Contact Phone Number/
Bellow is DHL Express contact address for you to contact them.
Contact Person/ Mr. Gorge Uzu
E-mail / (dhl_express09@yahoo.com)
Phone / +22998681597
I have already notify DHL Delivery Operator Benin Republic that you will
contact them any moment for the delivery, meanwhile the Delivery Operator said
that you will pay only US$85.00 for security keeping fee and your package will
be deliver to you.
Regards
Mr. Anthony Ekeh
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Anti-fraud resources:
