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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:
- "demurrage " (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- 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.
- upsdeliveryteam@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: UPS PAYMENT TEAM OFFICE <gpcentro@hch.com.ar>
Reply-To: upsdeliveryteam@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 21:13:37 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS ........ URGENT REPLY NEEDED....
This is to bring to your notice that a bank draft of $800,000.00USD, has
been Issued to you and deposited with UPS Courier For Delivery (West
Africa, Nigeria) by Mrs.Victoria Bethell from the United Nation
Compensation Dept, the only money you are to pay to Us UPS Courier, is
the Demurrage Charges, which is $150 before your package can be
delivered to you.I do hope you
receive this mail and act fast.You are to reconfirm
1. Name:
2. Address:
3. Country:
4. Phone Number:
5. Occupation:
6. Sex:
7. Age:
8.Next of Kin:
Note: Contact UPS Courier as soon as possible because of the expiring
date on the bank draft on : upsdeliveryteam@hotmail.com
Await your response.
Regards
Mrs Anita Terry (Dispatch Manager)
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Anti-fraud resources:
