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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- coudhl002@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Smith JACK <richardhallesq005@gmail.com>
Reply-To: coudhl002@aol.com
Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2021 09:51:26 -0700
Subject: I am very Surprise for your continued silence towards your ATM Visa Card
ATTENTION YOUR IMMENSE BENEFITS!!!
My Dear I am very Surprise for your continued silence towards your
ATM Visa Card My greatest supersaturation is this I sent you an email
but you did not reply. On a serious note,you are given 48hrs to comply
with the fee or your payment file will be return to the Authority as
unclaimed fund.
After meeting in London IMF told us to start a bonus for the new which
will last for two Months and ask us to accept $125usd for the
delivering of your ATM Visa Card. The total amount in Your ATM Visa
Card is $1.250 Million USA
Dollars.
Here is the information to send the $125 through money Gram or Western
Union:or RIA OR WORLD REMIT,OR IF YOU ARE BLOCK FROM SENDING, JUST BUY
GOOGLE PLAY GIFT CARD OR STEAM WALLCT OR iTUNES CARD
Receiver name;LEO STANLEY
Country; Benin Republic
City; Cotonou
Address; BP 289 Baba Road Akpakpa Cotonou Benin Republic
Text question. How Long?
Answer; Today
Amount; $125
Mtcn Numbers....
Sender?s name;
I am looking forward to hear from you right way because i hate any
thing promise and fail,
you can contact us with this email address (coudhl002@aol.com) once you
send the fee
I swear to God almighty Father. If I fail to delivery your ATM Visa Card
within 24hours after you send the $125.00 as I promise you that you
WE WILL FORWARD YOU DHL TRACKING NUMBER OF YOUR ATM Visa Card
YOURS IN SERVICE,
Mr Smith Jack
DISPATCH COORDINATOR
DIRECTOR DHL COURIER COMPANY
Tel:+229-96798481
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Anti-fraud resources:
