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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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.
- 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.
- 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.
- upsposts@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mary Adam." <lembehichenadette@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: upsposterservice@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:43:00 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Your reference code is..AXD-101-87529K.
Your Honesty Payment !!!!!!! Your overdue inheritance/lottery prize of $2.5 Million USA Dollars is Boxed and put to UPS COURIER EXPRESS  to deliver to you as cash a payment! since you’re disappointed in the past.So contact UPS COURIER EXPRESS Company with your delivery address and telephone numbers. This is their contact,Dr. David MorinEmail..( upsposts@hotmail.com )Tell: +229 980 57556 You should duly contact  UPS COURIER EXPRESS SERVICE for tracking nos and VIP shipment recipient's (SKF). Your reference code is..AXD-101-87529K. Note that you will pay for the Security Keeping Fee of $125usd and it is compulsory. Best Regards.Mrs. Mary Adam.
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Anti-fraud resources:
