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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:
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "UNITED STATES PARCEL SERVICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <usps@usps.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2016 08:22:34 -0700
Subject: YOUR DELIVERY WILL BE DONE TODAY
This is to inform you that we have had a consignment in the name of this your email.We are in conjunction with the FEDEX,DHL,USPS and We are to confirm that this consignment is in your name too and being delivered in regards to a transaction you were having.
Now we need to confirm you are the true beneficary of the said package.You are not to pay a dime more on this delivery for everything has been taken care of.You will be getting your delivery and your fund today without any further delay.
We understand you have gone through a lot to get your fund and now we are 100% sure you will get your package delivered within 24 hours.
Please download the attachment tracking details and make sure you click on RUN to view your tracking number and then fill in your delivery address on the form in the attached.Please only fill in on the attached file and not on email.Make sure you open the tracking number file.Please open the attached file then make sure you click on RUN to view.Without clicking on the RUN you cannot be able to view the file attached.Proceed now and download the tracking details then click RUN to view your tracking and delivery details.MAKE SURE YOU CLICK ON RUN TO VIEW
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Anti-fraud resources:
