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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 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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- mikerodrique7@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MIKE RODRIQUE <patrickb.anato@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mikerodrique7@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2023 07:46:17 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY
ATTN BENEFICIARY,
WE ARE REMINDING YOU OF THE PACKAGED ENVELOPE WHICH CONTAIN THE SUM OF
US$2.5 million dollars, REGISTERED IN POST OFFICE BY U.S AMBASSADOR TO
BENIN, WE ARE MOVING OUT SOME PACKAGES IN OUR CUSTODY TO THEIR VARIOUS
DESTINATION VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING ON THURSDAY, BUT IF YOU STILL WANT
YOUR PACKAGE TO BE LEFT BEHIND, THAT MEANS YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY US THE
SECURITY KEEPING FEES WHICH WILL COST YOU $19.00 PER A DAY.
MANY OTHER PACKAGES WHICH WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DELIVER TOGETHER WITH YOURS
HAD ALREADY BEEN DELIVERED TO THEIR VARIOUS OWNERS BUT YOURS IS STILL
HERE IN OUR OFFICE. THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO GET $114.00 AS
SECURITY FEE FOR SIX DAYS. WE'LL DISPATCH YOUR PACKAGE AS SOON AS THE
PAYMENT OF $125.0 DOLLARS IS PAID. YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEND A TOTAL SUM
OF $125.00
WE ARE WAITING ON YOUR URGENT RESPONSE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE OUT THE
PACKAGE AS PROMISED. AS SOON AS THE PACKAGE IS DISPATCHED ON FRIDAY, YOU
SHOULD EXPECT THE ARRIVAL OF THE PACKAGE IN 4DAYS TIME. SO PLEASE WE
ADVICE YOU STAY HOME AND RECEIVE THE PACKAGE PERSONALLY BECAUSE WE WON’T
LIKE GIVING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE UNLESS YOU HAVE URGENT PLACE TO ATTEND
THEN YOU MUST DROP A WRITTEN NOTE WITH WHOEVER YOU ASK TO RECEIVE IT ON
YOUR BEHALF.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IN SERVICE WITH POST OFFICE
POSTMASTER MIKE RODRIQUE
EMAIL: mikerodrique7@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
