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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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- fedexservice397@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "marria...fooster" <marriarace@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: fedexservice397@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:28:24 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: YOUR..ATM VISA CARD
Good day!!!
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Cash Fund of $1.2 Million Dollars but I did not hear from you since then therefore because of the impossibility of your fund transfer through Western Union and Money Gram Office, I have credited your total sum of $1.2 Million into an ATM VISA CARD and I went and registered the ATM CARD with FedEx Express Company for safety purpose meanwhile you are advice to contact the FedEx Express company with your delivery address.
Note: I have paid for the shipping fee except their security keeping charge of $95 which I wanted to pay them but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them in case of demur-rage. So you are to pay the security keeping charge of $95.00usd as soon as you contact them.
The following is the Contact Information of the FedEx Express Customer Service Director Mr. Robert Williams , Email Address online: (fedexservice397@yahoo.com ) +229-984-285-97 Contact them today and also send them the security official keeping charge to avoid increase of their fees and let me know once you receive your ATM card.
Please I advice you to reconfirm your delivery address and forward to the FedEx Express for immediate delivery:
(1) Your full name (2)
Your delivery address
(3) Your direct phone number,
so that they will deliver your ATM Card to your home address immediately.
Like I said earlier I have paid for the shipping fee except their security keeping fee of $95 USD only you pay this as soon as you contact them.
Here is the FedEx Express Contact Email to avoid wrong contact: (fedexservice397@yahoo.com) I wish you good luck.
Regards
marria...fooster
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