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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "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.
- 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.
- dhlcompany0992015@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. SMITH WILSON " <"WWW."@vesta.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. SMITH WILSON " <dhlcompany0992015@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2017 12:59:49 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention dear,
Attention dear,
You are welcome to DHL COURIER COMPANY LTD with world wide delivery at its
best. AM Mr. SMITH WILSON We are pleased to be at your service. DHL COURIER
COMPANY LTD is Regulated and Stipulated by the Delivery Service Authority( DSA
),the delivery institutions that REGULATES all delivery activities in the Benin
Republic.This office has been Notified by (FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF BENIN
REPUBLIC ) of Your PACKAGE Containing "ATM CARD "deposited in our company
With code (FCE:111) to be delivered to your nominated address.
Please This company will like you to forward to us the below information for
confirmation to avoid wrong delivery.
1 Full Name...
2 Your Home address and I.D.
3 Your Current telephone number.
4 Your Age .
5 Your Country.
6 Your Occupation.
YOURS IN SERVICE
Mr. SMITH WILSON
EMAIL=(dhlcompany0992015@gmail.com)
TELE= +229-9993-0716
MD/LOGISTIC MANAGER
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Anti-fraud resources:
