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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:
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "G.James.Durward" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gjdurward1937@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:10:32 -0400
Subject: Your Much Awaited Package.
My name is G.J.Durward, I am an international Envoy working with the Nigerian Government, I have been contracted by the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria,Ms. Robin Sanders to deliver your package(7.7 Million U.S.Dollars)to you.
Your being unable to receive your package is due to some logistics issues that are quite prevailing and was not properly managed by those initially involved.
The goods news is that your package has processed for delivery because all the hinderances making it impossible to be delivered has been taken care of.
The only thing holding it for now is the Nigerian Customs Service,they are requesting that you must have a delivery tag on your package for it to be successfully processed for delivery.
It is mandatory that you obtain this delivery tag as the owner of the package because all other expenses has been taken care of by the authoriities involved.
The delivery tag is the Nigerian Customs Service procedure that must be observed by you and the payment must be made by you in your own name for record purposes.
The delivery tag will cost you the sum of $115.00 a payment mode will be given to you.
In lieu of this, I want to follow all laid down instructions as to enable me do my job as expected.
I request you state the following information as soon as possible to expedite delivery;
Your full names and residential address:
Occupation:
Age:
The name of the closest Airport to you:
Your telephone or mobile:( this is very necessary because without it your request will be invalid)
Await your urgent response,
G.J.Durward.
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Anti-fraud resources:
