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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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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: "Robert Monte" <mdurumkalueke@gmail.com>
Reply-To: deliveryagentc@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2016 09:20:24 +0600
Subject: Your Package Unlocking CODE (AWB33XZS
This is Delivery Agent Roberts Monte, the Delivery agent from DHL courier
Company located in Benin. Your Package key Code Number GKORTO231,
Registration; D74H3L, Call +19174234019
Am writing to inform you that your ATM card and your consignment box
has been released and it is with me here D.H.L branch office in San
Diego International Airport in California. My purpose in this country
is to complete your delivery because my last year mission about your
delivery was uncompleted.
I have no much to time to waste so If you still need to receive your ATM
card and your consignment box then do contact me immediately because our
company in Benin Republic has obtain all the needed documents that can
cover the delivery to your destination.
Now if you really need to receive your ATM card You have to send to my
company in République du Bénin sum of $59.00 dollars to Renew your
packages Delivery permit certificate presented to the homeland security
here in San Diego California for them to allow me consider this delivery
done successful.
This is the information you will use to send the $59.00 dollars Via Money
Gram or Western Union Money Transfer to them for me to proceed:
Receiver’s name----- Louis UGO
Country-------République du Bénin
City---- Porto Novo
Test Question-------God
Answer -------------I trust
Amount-----------$59.00usd
Immediately you send the $59 Dollars to my company, within 24hours you
will get your ATM card and you consignment box at your doorstep!
Thanks’ expecting to hear from you very shortly
YOURS FAITHFUL
DELIVERY AGENT
Roberts Monte
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