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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. )
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- 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.
- office.fill042@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. George Feinberg" <nyc.com@rouge.plala.or.jp>
Reply-To: office.fill042@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2023 13:38:40 +0900
Subject: Your ATM master card Complement
Dear Valued Friend...
This is to inform you that your Compensation Payment worth
(US$800,0000.00)by the United Nations here in the USA, has been
converted into an ATM Master Card to free it from expiring. And
I have registered your ATM Card with the EFEX COURIER COMPANY for
them to deliver it to your home within 48 hours and we agreed that
The delivery of your ATM CARD Package will take off as soon as you
contact them with your full address where your ATM Card will be
delivered to you.
Full Names..........
Country.............
Residential address..
Whatsapp phone number..-
Occupation...............
Age......................
A copy of your identity..
I have paid for the Insurance & Delivery Fee, except their Security
Keeping Fee of US$275 which they said can only be paid when the Deposits
Is ready for shipment to the Receiver. Please indicate the registration
Number(Shipment Code FLK 33xzs) to enable them to know that you are the
right person.
Contact Email : office.fill042@gmail.com
Contact Person: Mr. George Feinberg
Telephone Number: +22945260078
Please do not let the Courier company know the real content of the
package, I registered it as Plate Disk so please do not let them know
that the Package contains an ATM Card. Let me know as soon as you contact
the Courier Company.
Best Regards,
Mr. Aaron Bocco
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Anti-fraud resources:
