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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:
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "courier company" (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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. JERRY" <Stunna@bronze.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MR. JERRY" <companydhl9@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2015 09:34:21 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Customer!!!,
Dear Customer!!!,
DHL Courier Company Benin branch wish to inform you that your package with registration CODE #( RRRRRFSC1133 ) is now ready to deliver to you as authorized by the depositor of
your package Dr.MR. JERRY U.N Secretary to this Company and we can assure you that we are experts and will commence the delivery of your package to your doorstep as soon as you
comply with our mode of delivery system, Your package is properly sealed and registered with your information and will be deliver to you within 24 hours as the depositor
registered the package along with some vital documents required by DHL Courier Company under delivery rules and regulation to effect the delivery to your destnation without any
further delay,
Also we can confirm to you that we have your correct information and the delivery of your package will commence as soon as we receive our shipping fee of $50.00 from you and you
should know that, This measures of charging shipping fee is to always protect the package of our customers and to ensure the safety delivery to his or her destination.
According to our delivery strategy, The delivery of your package to your destination will cost you sum of 100usd send to Western Union or Money Gram only with the following
details;
RECIEVER'S NAME:TONY OFOMA
COUNTRY: REPUBLIC OF BENIN
CITY: PORT-NOVO
QUESTION:IN GOD
ANSWER: WE TRUST
AMOUNT : 100
PAYMENT DETAILS TO SEND TO US
Money transfer control number (MTCN)
Senders Name:
Senders address:
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Anti-fraud resources:
