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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. )
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "hilaryogene@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Larry Walter" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hilaryogene@qq.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 12:46:28 -0700
Subject: YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTACT NOW!!
FedEx Benin Republic Head Office
70 International Airport Road, off Abatua Expres ,Benin Republic.
Dear Beneficiary,
This mail is to official inform you that after our meeting today with Ecowas
union of government together with United Nations, I here by informing you of
your ATM registered package. CONTENT: ATM card worth sum of $3.6millionUSD
registered by an Official of the United Nation Mr. Larry Walter. The Fund is a
donation to you from the Ecowas union of government and U.N through e-mails
balloting in affiliation with commonwealth poverty eradication program.
For your information the VAT and COD have been paid and the only money you will
have to pay is the security keeping fee which is $55.00USD only. It
must be paid
before shipment. Do contact the FedEx shipping director with this
Email address is
(hilaryogene@qq.com) contact person Mr. Hilary Ogene.
First Name:………………
Last Name:…………………
City:……………….
State:………………
Age:…………………….
Sex:…………………….
Occupation:……………..
Phone Number:……………..
A copy of your ID
Contact FedEx Delivery Department (Mr. Hilary Ogene) for
shipment.
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Anti-fraud resources:
