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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:
- "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. )
- "moneygram" (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.
- 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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: Diplomat <officeinfohead@gmail.com>
Reply-To: inboxmessage2023@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 19 Apr 2020 01:04:56 -0700
Subject: URGENTRESPONSE NEEDED.
Hello dear,
I am Diplomat, I am mandated to deliver a parcel containing
an ATM MASTER CARD Of $15.5Millions USD to you by the DHL COURIER AND
SHIPPING COMPANY. I
want to let you know that I should have delivered your parcel to you
earlier than this but due to the outbreak of CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC, I
could not because of the Airports and border closure.
Now, I want to use the Post office medium to send you your parcel and
to register and post your parcel to your given address will cost you
the sum of $50, I therefore suggests that you send an iTunes card
worth of the amount($50) to enable me send you your parcel through the
post office. But if you can send the money through western union or
moneygram, you should let me know so that I will give you the
information to pay in. I also want you to reconfirm your full delivery
address to me once again to avoid wrong delivery.
Kindly do this immediately you receive this message so that I can
proceed to the post office immediately and send your parcel to you as
soon as possible.
I awaits your urgent response.
URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED.
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Anti-fraud resources:
