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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:
- "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. )
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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 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.
- chrishebert72@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Anderson Cooper <andersoncooper@otenet.gr>
Reply-To: chrishebert72@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2017 07:16:48 -0700
Subject: Contact Agent CHRIS HEBERT currently at Maimi Florida
Hello Dear,
I wish to officially inform you that our international diplomatic agent
conveying the delivery of your ATM card valued the sum of ($3.5M USD)
misplaced your info on transit and he is currently stranded right at
Miami International Airport Florida 33126, USA with your Visa card. We
required you reconfirm the following information's below so that your
Package/ envelope will be brought to your address of residence by the
Diplomat who would accompany you to your bank to make your first
with-drawer from your account as being paid by western union department
into Visa card for much easily with-drawer, if you want him to deposit
the funds in your name and submit all documentations that has to do with
the origin of the funds in other to exonerate you from any form of
investigations or interrogation and to authenticate the fact that the
funds are clean and has no links whatsoever with either drugs or
terrorism. The Requested Information is to ensure that no mistake or
error is made and it should be forwarded in the manner stated below:
You’re Name_______________
You’re Country_____________
Mobile phone No____________
Your home address___________
Nearest Airport______________
ID______________
Please do make contact with the agent with the email below with the info
required so he can complete the trip contained your payment fund today.
Names: (CHRIS HEBERT)
E-mail (chrishebert72@hotmail.com)
Phone: (+1724-536-8198)
He is waiting to hear from you today with the information required, NOTE
the funds in the package ATM card from western union (Three Million five
Hundred Us Dollars.
Thousand US Dollars) and we confirm that these funds are fully free of
any liens, and are clean, clear and non-criminal origin and are
available in the form of CASH in the ATM ACCOUNT.
Best Regard
Anderson Cooper
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Anti-fraud resources:
