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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:
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: DHL COURIER COMPANY <meyer21robinson001@gmail.com>
Reply-To: DHL COURIER COMPANY <george1williams@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2015 09:32:17 +0900 (JST)
Subject: NOTIFICATION FROM DHL COMPANY (YOUR ATM CARD)
Good Day,
This is DHL Courier Delivery Company of Republic of Benin , the management of this
company wishes to inform you that we received a parcel containing an ATM
Master Card valued sum amount of ($3.5million) with some vital documents attached on it
for safety delivery to your residential address in your country.
This parcel was brought to us this morning by the ATM Card payment office
Republic of Benin for immediate dispatching to your residential address and be
informed that the only delay we have right now is the Coverage Outlet Fee of $99
to enable us obtain your package depature permit order from the (IMF) office to avoid
inspection at any transited airport or arrival in your country today so we need
the above fee for the protection of your Atm Card and We will register your Atm Card
and send you the tracking numbers before we proceed for safety delivery of your package
as soon as the needed fee is beign confirmed today as instructed and note that you
have to be very fast in sending the required fee today to avoid any additional charges
by the Depth and also to enable us meet up within the time frame in accordance today
Reconfirm the Below information as listed to avoid delivery to wrong address'
Full name............
Parcel Owner Address......
Country/State........
Occupation...........
Passport/
Sex/Age............
Telephone number...........
Below is the information to send the payment through Western Union Transfer Today'
Receiver Name......Johnny Obi
Country...........Benin Republic
City............Cotonou
Test Question......Atm
Test Answer.......Card
Amount.............$99
Sender's Name........?
Mtcn................?
Await your urgent response soon with the payment information while we look forward to serve you with the best of our service
Yours in service
Dr.George Williams
Phone Call:(+229 62322153
Dispatch Manager DHL Courier Company
Cotonou branch DHL Express Service Republic of Benin
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Anti-fraud resources:
