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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. )
- "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.
- 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: DHL Courier Company <flie38056@gmail.com>
Reply-To: DHL Courier Company <dhl109@yahoo.es>
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2015 22:00:47 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dispatch Manager DHL Courier Company
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 ($3.5billion) 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 $199 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
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......Ms.Mary Chi
Country...........Benin Republic
City............Cotonou
Test Question......In God
Test Answer.......We Trust
Amount.............$199
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
Mr.Joe Smith
Phone Call:(+229-68477889)
Dispatch Manager DHL Courier Company
Cotonou branch DHL Express Service Republic of Benin
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