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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:
- "insurance 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. )
- "western union" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- mrspattjoycebutler1111@post.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Patt Joyce butler" <mrs.justinawataego22@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrspattjoycebutler1111@post.com
Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2019 01:31:36 +0100
Subject: DEAR CUSTOMER, YOUR REPLY IS NEEDED!
In regard to your ATM CARD package with u.p.s
Reply directly to this email:- mrspattjoycebutler1111@post.com
Attn:
I received an email alert from ups in regard to your package which have
been with them for long now and the international shipping agent in charge
planned to return your package to the federal ministry of finance of
Nigeria. The total amount in your ATM CARD is $10.5 million usd and this
include interest rate up till date.the ATM CARD was programmed to have
access globally which you can make withdraw or transaction in any part of
the world.
It seems you don't want to show any seriousness towards the shipment of
your package that's why he want to return it and he need permission from me
first before he will return the package. I order him to stop and i also
assure him that i will make sure the insurance fee of $120 is paid and this
will be the only fee required from you. In regard to your ATM CARD package
which worth $10.5 million usd i will help you and make sure you receive it
and my investigation shows you have spent a lot recently in regard to this
package and this will be the last fee.
Remember you have spent a lot towards this package once the insurance fee
required now is paid then the shipment will commence and you will recover
all you have spent in the past in the wrong hands. Right now as I write to
you your ATM CARD is currently at our custody because that's where they
agent will be leaving from and for him to leave here to continue with his
delivery to your home you will have to settle for the insurance of the
package for security purpose ok. So below is the details which you will use
to send the $120 insurance fee to the delivering agent here through Western
Union and then get back to me here ASAP with the payment receipt as prove
that you have sent the insurance fee.
This is the info to send the $120 as below;
Receiver Name:== Stella Ebi
Receiver's Address:== Nigeria
Amount:== $120
Mtcn:=Sender's Adress:=Sender's Name:=
Your shipment will commence once the charge fee is paid today and also as
soon as you have made the payment then you get back to me with the payment
receipt so that it will enable us insure your package and proceed with the
delivery without any further delay.
It will take only 24 hours to get the package shipped to you, so feel free
to get back to me as soon as possible if you have any Question to ask about
this delivery.
Have a wonderful day
Best regards,
Mrs. Patt Joyce butler
Reply directly to this email:- mrspattjoycebutler1111@post.com
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