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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:
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "UPS Delivery Service" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <custmserviceups@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2016 19:01:22 +0300
Subject: Re: Your ATM Card
Greetings,
This is to Inform you that an ATM Card Number: 4283 0830 7403 4242 worth $3.5Million US Dollars has been accredited by the Federal Government of Benin Republic as Fund Compensation currently approved in your favour according to the meeting held by The United Nations, FBI, IMF, UPS and Interpol to verify and confirm your past transactions with the officials and government of Benin Republic. The package has been released today for delivery by the above agencies. You are receiving this email message in order to fully compensate victims that have had problems in receiving their funds or lost funds in the process.Your name is among the list of beneficiaries for the above payment approved in your favour. We the UPS Delivery Agency registered under Benin Republic government is charged to deliver your ATM visa Card package to your door-step as soon as we receive your delivery information written below.
Full Names:
Home Address:
Mobile Telephone Number:
Country:
Occupation:
Kindly Note that the delivery of your ATM visa Card is still on hold pending when you register the package for delivery. We dont do cash on delivery. You are also advice to go to our UPS Delivery Centre Close to you and register your name and this package before delivery to your door step. As soon as the package is registered with our office close to you, you are advice to send us the payment slip notifying us of your readiness to receive your package.
Thanks
JAMES DEEN
UPS Delivery Service
Benin Republic regional Centre
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Anti-fraud resources:
