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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:
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- brucepaul92@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Dr Dominic Randy <randy.8@energy.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Dr Dominic Randy <dominic_randy@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2019 15:50:43 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention Beneficiary:
I want to acknowledge you that we have finally succeeded in getting your package Worth of $2.5 Million US Dollars out of (ECOWAS) Economic Community of West African States department with the help of Dr Patrick Owen Attorney General of Federal High Court of Justice Benin Republic which act as your foreign Attorney representative here in Benin Republic. Meanwhile every necessary arrangement has been made successfully with the Agent Mr. Bruce Paul for the delivery of your ATM CARD and every Document guiding your delivery is well updated so you are advised to reconfirm your full delivery information to the Agent right now as he is currently at Raleigh-Durham International Airport with your ATM CARD PACKAGE Now. You are advice to reconfirm your full delivery information to the diplomat to enable him get your ATM CARD PACKAGE delivered to you safe and sound, Furthermore you are advice to be very fast as the agent Bruce Paul has no time to waste due to his flight ticket. So the Information you are required to reconfirm to the Agent are as Follow.
Your Full Name
Mobile Phone Number
Current Home Address
Country
City
Nearest Airport
SEX
AGE
Kindly contact him via his email address, Contact person, Name Agent Mr. Bruce Paul Email Address (brucepaul92@yahoo.com) contact him now to enable him locate your home address and deliver your ATM CARD You.
SINCERELY
Dr. Dominic Randy
The Director of DHL Courier Company Benin Republic.
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Anti-fraud resources:
