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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:
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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 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.
- horst.pauler@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "backup" <backup@jusromano.it>
Reply-To: horst.pauler@aol.com
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2016 14:05:17 +0100
Subject: Urgent
Dear Sir,
i want to trust you with this confidential proposal but Before i
continue, let me introduce myself to you,I am Capt.Horst Pauler,the
commander of special NATO coalition force with the United Nation
troops in Afghanistan,on war against Taliban. My country is Germany.
I have now in my possession the sum of USD $18 Million which i
recovered from one of our raids on Taliban camps here. This box have
been deposited with the RED CROSS OFFICE here in Kabul as a
diplomatic luggage for safe keep and to make contacts for its proper
use. As the team leader it is under my power to approve whoever comes
forth for this money. So i need someone i can deal with on trust and
that is why i contacted you. so If you accept,I will put you forward
as the beneficiary/owner of the funds and then move the money to you.
As a military personnel i cannot parade such an amount or carry it to
my country so i need to present someone as the beneficiary.I just need
your acceptance and all is done.I have 100% authentic means of
transferring the fund to you through a diplomatic courier service.Once
i confirm your interest and your positive reply i will proceed to
register your name as the beneficiary. Kindly contact me on
horst.pauler@aol.com
Regards
Horst Pauler
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Anti-fraud resources:
