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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- wtangu@safe-mail.net (Safe-mail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Silinon Denson <dsilinon@yahoo.com.tw>
Reply-To: Silinon Denson <wtangu@safe-mail.net>
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2014 10:43:15 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ATTENTION;DEAR CUSTOMER
ATTENTION;DEAR CUSTOMER
I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT THE DHL AGENT CONVEYING YOUR PACKAGE/FUND $2.8MILLION IS CURRENTLY NOW IN YOUR COUNTRY WITH YOUR FUND.RECONFIRM YOUR DELIVERY DETAILS AND YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER TO HIM THROUGH THE BELOW EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT HE CAN DELIVER YOUR FUND TO YOUR HOME ADDRESS TODAY.
DELIVERY DETAILS:YOUR NAME:HOME ADDRESS:TELEPHONE#:OCCUPATION:PACKAGE CODE:QB101REGISTRATION CODE:04005YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT:
DO NOT FORGET TO FORWARD YOUR PACKAGE CODE AND REGISTRATION CODE TO HIM IT WILL ENABLE HIM LOCATE YOUR PACKAGE EASYLY.
NOTE: THE DELIVERY AGENT DOESN'T KNOW THE TRUE CONTENT OF YOUR PACKAGE FOR NO REASON YOU SHOULD LET HIM KNOW UNTIL IT'S DELIVER TO YOU, FOR SECURITY REASONS.
DELIVERY AGENT NAME:.WILLIAM TANGUEMAIL ADDRESS:.wtangu@safe-mail.net
REGARDS,
DENSON SILINONDHL DELIVERY COMPANYBENIN REPUBLIC.+229-98647744
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Anti-fraud resources: