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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:
- "security keeping 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. )
- "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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "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: " MR.JOHN WILLIAMS" <bankuba500@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dhlcompany230@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2022 19:36:19 -1200
Subject: TEXT OR CALL +18147559435
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GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS MR JOHN WILLIAMS RIGHT NOW AM AT OHARE INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT WITH YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX THAT WORTH SUM OF $10.5 MILLION
DOLLARS BUT THE ONLY THING HOLDING ME RIGHT NOW TO DELIVER IT TO YOUR
ADDRESS IS THE DELIVERY FEE AND SECURITY KEEPING FEE AND BOTH FESS
WILL COST ONLY $200 DOLLARS AND IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND IT TODAY WITHIN
24 HOURS I WILL DELIVER YOUR FUNDS TO YOUR ADDRESS. MEANWHILE YOU HAVE
TO RECONFIRM ME ALL YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS WHERE YOUR CONSIGNMENT WILL
BE DELIVERED AVOID WRONG DELIVERY.SUCH AS
YOUR NAME:
HOME ADDRESS:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
NEXT OF KIN:
PHONE NUMBER:
HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE $200 DOLLARS VIA MONEY GRAM ONLY.
RECEIVER NAME:ORANU JOE ACHOKUBA
COUNTRY:BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY:COTONOU
AMOUNT:$200
OR
YOU CAN GO TO WALMART STORE AND BUY ITUNES CARD OR GOOGLE PLAY AND
SCRATCH IT AND SEND IT TO ME HERE??
URGENT RESPOND NEEDED.
MR.JOHN WILLIAMS
TEXT OR CALL +18147559435
Whats-app:+18147559435
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Anti-fraud resources:
