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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Pittsburgh International Airport Pennsylvania." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <DispatchOfficer32@Yandex.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2019 04:17:15 +0200
Subject: Your package Reg: 3RT67A is available for delivery to you as the beneficiary.
ATTN:_______Notice On Your Package Reg: 3RT67A.
Today we discovered an abandoned metal suitcase in our Storage Unit with registration number; 3RT67A , originally scheduled to be delivered to you by the (Foreign Payment Service) Pennsylvania Department, this suitcase is a metal box and after undergoing forensic scanner inspection it was revealed to contain money valued $10.5 Million USD(Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars)
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I am writing to inform you that we have investigated the said suitcase and the investigation proved the legitimacy of its content as it is said to be a compensation fund from a Poverty Alleviation Program held during September 2017.
You are therefore advised to make contact with Barrister Howard Richard ,(DispatchOfficer32@Yandex.com)
The attorney selected for you to help secure and monitor your package delivery regarding any issues during the course of its delivery.
Contact him through his email to lay claim and recover your package or we will be compelled to list your package box as an unclaimed property and maybe forfeited and moved to the United States Treasury Department for holding we will be compelled to list your Fund as an unclaimed package and maybe forfeited and moved to the United States Treasury Department for holding.
If this mail is found in spam folder, it could be due to your Internet Service Provider, ISP. So move to your inbox before your reply.
God Bless
Sincerely,
Melissa J Peterson
Inspection Unit
Pittsburgh International Airport Pennsylvania.
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Anti-fraud resources:
