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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:
- "service fee" (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.
- 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.
- billmartin959@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.James Wyche" <"www."@biscuit.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr.James Wyche" <mywesternunion.promo.dept01@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2018 20:22:55 +0900 (JST)
Subject: This is Mr Bill Martin from DHL Courier Company
this is Mr Bill Martin from DHL courier company.
I'm contacting you today because the director of the ATM CARD center here in Benin Republic said that they will divert your ATM CARD to the Government Treasury just because that you cannot pay for the service fee of your ATM CARD which is $150.00 only according to them. But I told them to wait until I hear from you today so that I will know the reason why you rejected such amount of money sum of $12.8million USD which will change your life just because of $150.00,only so if you are interested to be the owner of this ATM MASTER CARD get back to me and reconfirmed your full information right now.
Your Full name.....................
Your Date of birth.................
Your Delivery Address..............
Your Sex...........................
Your country and your city.........
Your Occupation....................
Your Mobile Cell Phone.............
Your Email address.................
Your Pin code no...................
Your Scan copy of your identity....
thank you to understand
Regard Mr Bill Martin
Email:billmartin959@gmail.com
Phone call or text:+1(229) 329-2928
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Anti-fraud resources:
