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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:
- "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. )
- "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- 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.
- fedex.parceldelivery@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: rose john <rosejohn0133333@katamail.com>
Reply-To: fedex.parceldelivery@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 22:08:07 +0100
Subject: ATTN; GOODS NEWS//YOUR ATM CARD IS READY//CONTACT FEDEX ASAP.
Beloved,
It's my pleasure to inform you that, the inheritance fund has been paid and i have received my share.
I have loaded the sum of $5.5mUSD in a SWIFT ATM VISA CARD in your favour as your compensation. I deposited it with FedEX Express Service Benin Republic. So contact the FedEX now for the deliver of the card to you because i am out of country now for my project i have at hand.
I paid the delivery charges, but I did not pay their official Security 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 which runs daily, so i want you to contact urgent to avoid increase of their security keeping fee.
Remember you will send your mailing address and your full name and phone number to enable them confirm.
CONTACT PERSON; DR. FRANK JOHNSON.
EMAIL; fedex.parceldelivery@yahoo.fr
Find below the secret pin code of the card and keep it confidential to avoid another person seeing it even FEDEX director, its personal to avoid loosing your fund.
Bank Name; Eco Bank (EB)-Benin Republic.
Secret Pin Code; 2070
Account; 0470001015596.
Best Regards,
Ms. Rose John.
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