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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:
- "activation fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- postofficegoodsservice@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Herbart Idum" <william.betha.office@gmail.com>
Reply-To: postofficegoodsservice@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2021 10:26:04 -0700
Subject: Contact Post office to receive your ATM Card
Contact Post office to receive your ATM Card Package
Attn: Dear Customer,
I have been planning on how to get things being in order to you.
Right now everything has been completed and this is to let you know
that I have finalized with the bank manager, to credit your ($3.900,
000.00 Million USD) to an ATM VISA CARD. So your inherited funds of
($3.900, 000.00 Million USD) has been converted and credited to an ATM
VISA CARD. This is to bring to your notice that I have paid the
re-activation fee and I have deposited your ATM Parcel to Post Service
office to posting your ATM to your posting address.
I want you to contact the Post office with your home /office address
that you prefer for the posting to be made so that they can post your
ATM Visa Card to your designated address in your country without any
delay.
Like I stated earlier, I have paid the ATM activation fee but I did
not pay their postage fee because they refused, the reason is that
they do not know when you are going to contact them. So only postage
fee of $67 you will send to post office then they will post your ATM
Master Card to your posting address in your country immediately.
Contact Post office to send the $67 to them to enable post your ATM
immediately Post Office Email: (postofficegoodsservice@gmail.com)
Thanks and remain bless
Regards. Mr. Herbart Idum
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Anti-fraud resources:
