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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Kojo Michael <xgs.gambia@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kojomicheal76@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 08:27:52 -0700
Subject: EMPLOYMENT/TOURISM OPPORTUNITY
Dear Sir/Madam.
We are happy to announce to you we are an organization responsible for
MANPOWER RESOURCE. Our job is to get interested job applicants
employed by one of our various principal Employers. We are
headquartered in the Gambia; Note we shall be responsible for your
traveling facilities.
We have vacancies in Ac Courier delivery Agent. Presently they are
seeking for two men and two women from Europe, America and Canada to
employ in their delivery services. If you are from within the areas
mentioned and interested to work on this field as a courier delivery
agent under Ac Courier Services you are required to send us a scan
copy of your international pass port, address and telephone number. It
is a contracts employment which is to say you will be paid for any
delivery or service rendered. Your duty will be traveling to wherever
the organization will send you across the world. You will be paid the
sum of 3000 US dollars in any of the contract executed, this exclude
your traveling and accommodation allowances. If you are interested
with this opportunity please contact us back
We only require a scan copy of your international pass port, address
and telephone number as mentioned above, this will grant us the
knowledge of your acceptance to be employed. Good luck.
Kojo
Manager WTB MANPOWERS.
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Anti-fraud resources:
