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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 service" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Hubert M. Winchester" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <emscourier_services11@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2018 13:48:14 +0100
Subject: From Manager EMS Delivery Dept
Attn :
I am Hubert M. Winchester the branch Manager EMS Courier Services here in Nigeria. I am contacting you because Yesterday one Rev. Fr. Godwin Raymond brought a Parcel of ATM Card value $1.9M, to delivered to you. According to him said its a compensation left on your behalf by Mr Mark Bello whom you once assisted to transfer the funds but one thing or the other stopped it. after succeeded with a new Partner which helped him to travel to Canada to start her new life and investments.
You are highly advise to forward your residential address with your cell phone Number to proceed over the delivery immediately to avoid expiring of the card Serial Number.
Regards,
Hubert M. Winchester
Manager EMS Delivery Dept
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Anti-fraud resources: