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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- 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.
- carecust7@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Anamucos Magnus." <nbvjgghdteyr@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "Mr. Anamucos Magnus." <carecust7@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2015 16:25:28 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Attention: Contact DHL for the Picking Details of your Parcel
 Attention:
I have registered your parcel that contains your ($7.8musd) seven million, eight hundred thousand United States dollars to the DHL Company today, in accordance to my boss direction. He instructed me to make the waybill to you. Now the whole expenses have been taken care of.
However, you will contact DHL Company for the picking details of the parcel. (Prof. Gloria Wilfred, email: carecust7@gmail.com)
The requirements for the collection of the parcel from their diplomatic agent are:
Your full nameâ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦
Phone numâ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦
The nearest airport addressâ¦â¦â¦.
Countryâ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦..
Remember that my boss has paid the entire needed fees for their diplomat to deliver your parcel to you. If anyone asks you of money from DHL Company, note that the person is a scam and donât try to give any person ANY MONEY.
Thanks
Mr. Anamucos Magnus.
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Anti-fraud resources: