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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:
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "fedx-couriercompany@fastservice.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev. Mark John" <WWW.@axel.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Rev. Mark John" <fedx-couriercompany@fastservice.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2018 04:18:46 +0900 (JST)
Subject: URGENT ATTETION NEEDED
From:FEDEX Courier Company Office Benin Republic.
This is to inform you that there is an ATM VISA card in this
office deposited by UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA on the 20th of December 2017.
Your e-mail address was attached to it and is to be posted to
you. We have been waiting for you to contact us for your ATM
card which contains the sum of $10 Million USD and some vital
documents. So kindly get back to this office (FEDEX COURIER
COMPANY BENIN REPUBLIC) to avoid wrong delivery You are require
to give your full delivery address again for the delivery.
1.YOUR FULL NAME_____,
2.YOUR HOME ADDRESS______,
3..YOUR PHONE AND CELL NUMBER____,
4.A COPY OF YOUR ID____,
5.YOUR COUNTRY_____,
Best regard
Rev. Mark John
Manager of FEDEX Courier Company Benin Republic.
(fedx-couriercompany@fastservice.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
