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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:
- 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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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 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.
- 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.
- kevinonwude@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: kevin Onwude <sweetheartthear@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kevinonwude@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2022 20:13:19 +0100
Subject: Attention:Beneficiary
Attention, Dear,
This is to notify you that your consignment has been in our custody
waiting for your comply before the delivery will be effected to your
delivery address. We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding
your consignment box which Impex Express Service supposed to deliver to you
which was on hold by US Department of State Bureau and requesting for
clearance certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the
consignment box before it will be released.
After the meeting held by our board of directors which was concluded
that the delivery of your consignment to your address must be
completed within 24-hours upon your comply to our requirement which
is by sending Itunes Card of $50.00 Dollars to obtain the needed
certificate and effect the delivery of your consignment immediately.
Note that your consignment box US$30.9000.000.00 Million has been
arrived in US Los Angeles,International Airport
and waiting to receive clearance certificate before the gate pass is
given for final delivery of your consignment to your address bellow.
Note that you are expected to pay only $50.00 Itunes card for clearance
certificate and you are to pay it here as the origination of the
consignment box in favor of
Itunes Card $50 or Joe Wilson Starnes our accountant officer in USA
Send the $50.00 through western union money transfer once you receive
this mail with the information below for immediate release of your
consignment box,
To save our time better Send Itunes Card Steam Wallet card $50.00 for
the fee
Itunes card or Steam wallet card picture................
Once you send the money, try to notify us with the MTCN or SCANNER
itunes card for easy to pick
up and immediate action on the release of your consignment box
US$30.9000.000.00 Million.Please
treat this as matter of urgency .
Note that any uncial consignment will be return to Impex Express courier
company ltd after 3 days.So you are urgently advise to comply with our
demand fee $50 so that we will release your consignment box immediately.
Mr.kevin Onwude
Public Relation Officer United State Custom
( kevinonwude@gmail.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
