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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:
- "security keeping 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. )
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "million us dollars" (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)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- expressworldcourierservice@deliveryman.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Okechukwu Adams (ESQ)" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <expressworldcourierservice@deliveryman.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2018 12:30:01 -0700
Subject: Get in touch with the delivery company they are waiting for your response
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your own share of the money but I did not hear from you since that time as we fixed then I went and deposite your own share of the money which is ($2.2 Million united states dollars ) in a security box with the Express world courier service Netherlands as OF now I am in Saudi Arabia to visit my family and I will not come back till next month ending.
Right now I want You to contact the Express world courier service Netherlands to know when they will deliver your package to you note that I have paid for the delivery charges so the only money you have to send to them is the security keeping fee which is $95 to received your ($2.2 Million united states dollars ) that I arranged in a security box.
Contact Person:Mrs.Anna Brown.
E-mail:( expressworldcourierservice@deliveryman.com )
Try to contact the Express world courier service Netherlands as soon as possible I gave them your delivery address but you have to reconfirm it to them again to avoid any mistake when delivering so kindly reconfirm the below informations to the Express world courier service Netherlands once more.
Your Full Name-----------------------
Your Address---------------------------
Home telephone---------------------
DO Let me know as soon as you receive your security box and check the contents if the total ($2.2 Million US Dollars) is complete,
Regards.
Mr.Okechukwu Adams (ESQ)
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Anti-fraud resources:
