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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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: IMF Delivery agent <fafa1@inMail.cz>
Reply-To: gloseff@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 03 Mar 2011 08:06:50 +0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS
GOOD NEWS
ATTENTION: Receiver
I Am Agent Harry Milton (Delivery agent) send by International Monetary Fund
(IMF UK office),currently am on transit at the Soekarno?Hatta International
Airport Jakarta Indonesia with your parcel containing CITIBANK issued
ATM Debit
Card approved for payment by the (IMF) to be delivered to you
personally to your
doorstep.
This payment was as a result of your inheritance/lottery winning/contract and
outstanding over due payments.
Call me on +6289636585156 (international roaming) Immediate you receive this
email to enable me know how to locate you and hand over the parcel to you.
Send the below details to me through SMS to my number +6289636585156 for
FULL NAME:
NEAREST AIRPORT:
MOBILE TELEPHONE NUMBER:
I wait for your call urgent.
Agent Harry Milton
Delivery agent
(International Monetary Fund IMF)
London UK
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Anti-fraud resources:
