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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:
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Samual K. Richard" <48@samuelrichard466.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <dhlcourierrvice@xd.ae>
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 18:34:36 +0530
Subject: CONTACT DHL OFFICE FOR YOUR PACKAGE
I am writing to inform you that your file was found in our office today and we discovered that your cheque of $2.850 Million United State Dollars have not been sent to you as it was instructed by our late Boss.
We are very sorry for the mistake and the delay, please bear with us because the fault is from our former secretary who died and did not complete the instruction giving by our Boss.
My dear, Note that your cheque has been convert into Master ATM Card to free it from Expiring. This is to tell you that the arrangement to deliver to you the $2.850 Million in ATM CARD is concluded today.
Now Your ATM CARD is well packaged for immediate delivering and we have deposit the Parcel with the DHL Courier Company in INDIA in conclusion to deliver it to your house address as soon as you contact them with you current information.
The delivering charges has already been paid, and they advised that you should contact them with your Delivering Address as soon as possible so that they will deliver your Parcel to you immediately to avoid dumurrage Fee because the DHL Manager said that after 3 days then it will be counting on dumurrage, So you are advised to contact them now to avoid dumurrage.
This is their Contact Address,
Director: Dr.Stephen Williams
Dhl courier Service Company.
E-mail :( dhlcourierrvice@xd.ae )
Try to contact them as soon as possible.
Below is the information you are required to send to them:
(1) Full name:
(2) Home Address:
(3) Mobile Telephone:
(4) Age:
(5) Sex:
(6) A copy of your photo
(7) Country / City:
(8) Occupation:
And you have to reconfirm your full information to them to avoid any mistake on the delivering of your package to you as they will arrive to your country.
Sincerely
Yours sincerely
Mr. Samuel K. Richard
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Anti-fraud resources:
