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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "fund beneficiary" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- dhlexpressservices@safe-mail.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: .Vera@alpha.ocn.ne.jp
Reply-To: dhlexpressservices@safe-mail.net
Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2016 00:59:15 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTN.
To: The Fund Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that IMF just discovered your unpaid Winning Price contract compensation of a US$1.2M owned to you through the IMF Central Data System and a part payment of US$1.2 Million has been approved to be paid to you through an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Card.
I have registered the ATM CARD with TNT COMPANY as directed and the delivery will take off as soon as you contact the COMPANY. Based on the agreement with TNT Director, Dr.William Frank Akaego The only what it will cost you to receive your Automated Teller Machine (ATM CARD) is their delivery fee ONLY. So contact the delivery company ASAP and ask them for the COST of their COMPANY delivery fee. MOST IMPORTANTLY: re-confirm your current delivery address and Telephone via His émail adresse Bellow:
The amount processed in the ATM Card is US$1.2 Million in your name and the PIN code is: {0608}.Remember to contact the delivery company direct to their contact information below.
Contact person; Dr.William Frank Akaego
@ E-mail: dhlexpressservices@Safe-mail.net
Direct Tel: +229 61 96 53 83
Direct Fax: +229 95 86 21 42
Thanks.
Mrs. Vera Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources:
