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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:
- "storage 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. )
- "info_program@gmx.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Paul Wells" <paulwilsonwells509@gmx.com>
Reply-To: paul.wells@tlen.pl
Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2015 21:08:04 +0545
Subject: ATTENTION: Final Notice of Your Package
Cargo Unit
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA)
Orlando International Airport
One Jeff Fuqua Blvd
Orlando, Florida 3227-4399
ATTENTION: Final Notice of Your Package
In view of your inability to receive your package reg #: SA335493RDK originally scheduled to be delivered to you by the agency Foreign payment service New York.
The package in a golden metal box valued 5,316,000USD (Five Million, Three Hundred and Sixteen thousand United states dollars) arrived at Chicago international airport via British airways flight no.BA592 from London UK sometime ago. The agency Foreign Payment service New York staff came and applied for the release of this package for delivery to your address but has since not shown up again.
I am hereby writing to inform you that the days of grace has expired and we shall begin to charge a storage fee of US$10 daily. Please call Mr. Paul Wilson Wells for enquirers to release this package and deliver it to you. email: (info_program@gmx.com)
Note that this notice serves as our last recovery notice to you as our department will be compelled to list your package as an unclaimed and maybe forfeited.
Best regards,
REV. DENIS LOPEZ
Terminal 8. ext.15
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Anti-fraud resources:
