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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Jeffery koffi" <jefferykoffi@inbox.ru>
Reply-To: "Mr. Jeffery koffi" <tntexpresscourier3@foxmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2015 18:01:41 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Contact TNT Express Courier Company Now
Dear Friend:
Your amount credited in the card is $15.5million best regards,
The {un] { Economic} welfare committee, be informed that you have been
awarded a compensation. A worldwide compensation for the current
economic meltdown. congratulation : I have finally registered your ATM
Master Card with TNT Courier Company Benin Republic this morning
after the agreement to pay you via debit card which will allow you
withdrawal from any automated teller machine around you. as we agreed,
and the delivery will take off immediately you made contact with them
based on my agreement with TNT Director Dr. Mark Goodness,
Contact them your delivery information as follow,
Your Name-------
Your Home Address-----
Your County-----
Your Age/sex-----
Direct Phone number---
Your Occupation----
Contact Person: Dr. Mark Goodness
Country : Benin Republic
Phone no { +22968131028 }
Once again you have been awarded $15.5million
Best Regards,
Mr. Jeffery koffi.
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Anti-fraud resources:
