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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:
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: UN-HABITAT@aitlbd.net
Reply-To: ups-courier.ng@webadicta.org
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 23:31:44 +0700
Subject: compensation payment
After several attempts to reach you on phone, I deemed it necessary and urgent to
contact you via your e-mail address and to notify you finally about your outstanding
compensation payment of $2,811,041.00 USD by the UN-HABITAT.
Please contact High-Speed Delivery Service with your name, resident address and your
direct telephone number for the delivery of your cashier check.
United Parcel Service(Ups)
Contact Name: Tima Wilson
Tel:+234-8078467568
E-mail: ups-courier.ng@webadicta.org
PS: Take note that you will pay a shipping/handling fee of $105 USD for your check
delivery by the courier service.
Thanks for your attention
Guirguis Menes R.
Program Manager
United Nations Human Settlement Programme
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Anti-fraud resources:
