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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.
- 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.
- untedparcelservices@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: UPS.COM <untedparcelservices@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <ups.com@gmx.us>
Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2017 19:19:55 -0800
Subject: Un-Delivered Package (2nd Notice)
Dear customer,
We attempted to deliver your item containing a bank Draft of $2.5 million USD deposited by The UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC and SOCIAL COUNCIL (Ecosoc) at 08:58 am G.M.T on 9th of August 2017. The delivery attempt failed because no one was present at the shipping address provided by the sender: this notification has been automatically sent to you in order to re-schedule a re-delivery date. If the Item isn’t scheduled for re-delivery within 72 hours (3days) in receipt of this message, your package will be returned back to the sender in Geneva, Switzerland.
Label/Receipt Number: EL094019142HK
Expected Re-Delivery Date: 9th of August, 2017
Class: Package Services
Service(s): Delivery Confirmation (not delivered)
Status: Delivery Attempted (Action Needed)
If you wish to re-schedule a re-delivery date Kindly provide your full names, address and a direct cell phone number to ensure safe and fast delivery of your item to your door steps.
Massey Raymond
Dispatch Manager
© 2017 UPS Canada Post Corporation
E-mail: untedparcelservices@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
