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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- officefile4419@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR MARK WILFRED <dhldepartmenttim@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officefile4419@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2021 23:56:04 +0100
Subject: ATM MASTER CARD OWNER
ATTENTION TO YOU
ATM MASTER CARD OWNER
I have registered your ATM MASTER CARD of ($10.700,000,00USD) with
FEDEX COURIER COMPANY
service with registration code of ( Shipment Code awb 33xzs). please Contact
with your delivery information such as:-
Your Full Name......
Your Home Address.......
Your Mobile Phone Number/WhatsApp...
Your State.....
Your City......
Occupation...
Age.....
Gender......
Marital Status......
Name of Dir: MR MARK WILFRED
E-mail: (officefile4419@gmail.com)
I have paid for the Insurance & activation.The only fee you have to
pay is their delivery fee only and you shall be given a tracking
number that is to Track and Trace your parcel once it is posted to
your destination address, so as to enable you track your parcel to
know exactly when it will arrive to your destination address.
I will be looking forward to receiving your immediate response..Please
indicate the registration Number and ask Him for the information to
send the delivery fee
Best Regards,
MR DAN SCOTT
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Anti-fraud resources:
