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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:
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "POST OFFICE" <info@mary.org>
Reply-To: postoffice2002@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2020 01:59:06 +0200
Subject: [***SPAM*** Score/Req: 12.0/12.0] For your ATM card.108
Post Office -Cotonou Benin Republic.
Address: 20/22 Hospital Route Cotonou Benin Republic.
Tex/ (+229 81 786 724 97,
Hello
Re: Post Office -Cotonou Benin Republic urgently to avoid expiration.
From regular mail post office Benin Republic, This is to inform you
that there is an ATM Card in this office deposited by the Board of
Directors and Trustees of the United Nations Compensation Unit.
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 conformable ATM Card
which contains the sum of $800,000 United State Dollars and some vital
documents. So kindly get back to this office (Regular Mail Post office
Benin Republic) to avoid fraudulent issues concerning in this service.
You are to confirm and provide to us your postal address below.
Your full name..........
your country............
your postal address.....
Your direct phone........
Note: that every claims has an expiring period of fourteen working
days (3days) so you have that very urgently to avoid expiration..
Thanks
Your best regard
CONTACT PERSON:
MR PETER CHARLES
email:( postofice@live.com )
tell/ (+22786 724 9,
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Anti-fraud resources:
