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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.
- 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.Mary J. Boni" <ninomusa@alice.it>
Reply-To: delivery_service@outlook.com
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2013 04:55:48 +0100 (CET)
Subject: GOOD NEWS
We have finally arranged to deliver your ATM CARD worth $4.5, USD
through the national UPS company. We were able to accomplish this
through the help of IMF director John Andy and every necessary
arrangement
been made successfully with the National UPS Agent HON JERRY
LEO.Contact
person: HON JERRY LEO Telephone: +229 68873646
Email:delivery_service@outlook.com . my Contact the UPS agent with your
delivery information, your phone number,address,nearest airport and
your receiver's name. and also be
informed that you are to pay keeping fee of $105 Good luck. Your Pin code is
(4242).
Sincerely Mrs.Mary J. Boni
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Anti-fraud resources:
