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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. )
- "trunk box" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "hundred thousand 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 company" (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.
- dhlcouriercompanyplc@yahoo.co.id (Yahoo, Indonesia; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: From Desk Of Secretary <oficefiles911@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: From Desk Of Secretary <dhlserviceplc@yahoo.co.id>
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 13:51:28 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: YOUR PACKAGE HAS BEEN DEPOSITED AT DHL DELIVERY COMPANY CONTACT
THEM NOW.
 In respect of your support and hardworking in this organization the board of executive in their last meeting has decided to reward twelve members effort with the sum of USD $6,3.000.00 six Million three Hundred thousand united state dollars only each,right now YOUR FUND has been deposited at the D.h.l COURIER
COMPANY here in benin republic.
1.CONTACT PERSON......MR.Darry Johnson,
2.DIRECTOR E-mail: ( dhlcouriercompanyplc@yahoo.co.id )
3.DIRECTOR-----Phone +2299-8057-556
1..Your full name...............................
2..Your delivery address................................
3.Your Home phone number.............................................
4.Your Mobile phone number............................................
5.Country..........................................
The money has been packaged and sealed with D.h.l label on Trunk Box to ensure the safety of the content.Consignment Description:
Type:......Diplomatic Package.
Size:......L: W: H / 04:10:13 CM.
Weight:...0.29kg.
Color:.....Brown.
As for our agreement with the D.h.l Courier Company they promised that your consignment will leave by today as soon as you contact them and pay the security keeping fees$55.Make sure your information is correct and always remember to address the box as church evangelism Items because the courier company does not know the real content of the package.
Best Regard\\\\\\'s,
Good Luck.
>From Desk Of Secretary,
MR.WILLIAMS JEO
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Anti-fraud resources:
