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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- hon.williamsh@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Nelson Goudreau" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hon.williamsh@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2014 02:36:38 -0500
Subject: Important Notification; Your Card Has been Registered With the DHL
Attn; Dear!
This is to bring you notice that i have registered Your ATM VISA CARD have being registered with DHL COURIER. And the card with registration code of (Shipment Code awb 33xzs) value is $3.5 million united state dollars.
The delivery charges has been paid but i did not pay their official keeping fees since they refused.Reasons for their refusal is because they do not know when you are going to contact them because the keeping fee is $45 dollars per day.
And I deposited it yesterday being 5th of Feb. 2014 So that is the reason why i did not pay for the keeping fee and that is only fee you are going to pay them,so i want you to contact them urgent to avoid increase of their keeping fee.
Contact Hon. William Hague
DHL DIRECTOR GENERAL
EMAIL:( hon.williamsh@yahoo.com.hk )
This are the information needed for easy delivery of your CARD.
1.Your Full Name..................
2.Your Home Address..............
3..Your Telephone Number........
4.Occupation.................
5.Your Country/ Zip codes...
Please indicate the registration Number and ask Him how much is their Security fee so that you can pay it.
Best Regards
Mrs. Nelson Goudreau
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Anti-fraud resources:
