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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:
- "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- helenmike72@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Caroline McGovern Esq" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <helenmike72@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:33:50 -0800
Subject: GOOD MORNING!
Compliment Of The Day!
I write to inform you that your lottery award inheritance winning check of $9.8 million USD was issued out from bank last week, although the check has been converted to a ATM Visa card.
Reason, the money was loaded into the card was because the check may got expired before it gets to your address, therefore we have registered the ATM card with FedEx courier company here. So kindly contact them with your current address where to deliver the ATM card.
Contact FedEx manager: Dr. Helen Mike R
Email: helenmike72@yahoo.com
Phone: +229 61118255
Please endeavor to indicate the ATM card parcel registration number which is ( ATM-068QR ) when contacting them.
Please ensure you inform me when you have received the ATM.
Sincerely yours,
Caroline McGovern Esq
OON, secretary to IMF Benin republic.
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Anti-fraud resources:
