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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.
- postofficeworlddelivery@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Herbart Idum" <barrandrenmathew@gmail.com>
Reply-To: postofficeworlddelivery@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2022 10:10:31 -0700
Subject: Urgent
--
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 Benin Republic for them to posting your ATM to
your post address in your country.
I want you to contact the Post office Benin Republic with your full
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 $99 you will send to post office
Benin Republic then they will post your ATM Master Card to your
posting address in your country immediately.
Contact Post office to send the $99 to them to enable post your ATM immediately
Post Office Email: (postofficeworlddelivery@gmail.com)
Thanks and remain bless
Regards. Mr. Herbart Idum
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