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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "processing 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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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: UPS EXPRESS <offfffice799@gmail.com>
Reply-To: UPS EXPRESS <super.upscourier@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 May 2015 15:17:29 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Valuable Customer.
Dear Valuable Customer.
This is to bring to your notice that because of the impossibility of your fund transfer through the western union network, your Fund total sun of $1.5millon valid fund has credited into an ATM MASTER CARD and have paid the Processing fee and the delivery of the ATM Card for you, it was paid by the depositor tony Morris because to the UPS Delivery Company. Therefore, you will have to response asap for the delivery.
he paid the delivery fee so that to avoid delay over your delivery to avoid your ATM Card expire which will result to called back your funds into Federal Government treasury account because, he trust that when you receive your ATM Card definitely you must pay him back and even compensate for helping you.
Now you are advice to contact reply back to this office UPS Express with your details as below you desire the delivery to be made so that we can deliver your ATM Card to your designated address without any delay.
Your Full Name......................
Your Delivery Address..................
your Direct Phone number......................
Scan Copy Of your Id..........................
contact person
Director Mr.Paul Edward
Tel: +229 98382763
response immediately you receive this email for immediate delivery
Regards.
Mr.John Eri
Secretary
UPS Benin Republic office
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Anti-fraud resources:
