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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: JOHN HARVEY <diplomatharvey@jmail.co.za>
Reply-To: us_diplomat1@live.com
Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:34:59 -0400
Subject: Payment from Washington
Dear Friend,
My name is Mr. John Harvey, Am a top American diplomat working under
the United
Nations. I was newly assigned to head the diplomatic sector of the United
Nations payment outlet in Seattle Washington. The United nations in agreement
with the International Monetary Funds and all financial sectors involved have
resolved to release some funds to you in the amount of ($7MUSD) which
is inline
with the international face mending exercise going on and as a token for the
development of infrastructure and poverty alleviation. We have been
mandated to
complete this delivery within 4 days to any address of your choice as
far as we
have your understanding and trust.
Your funds have been arranged in a silver trunk box in the United Nations safe
room in Washington with a high diplomatic immunity coverage which means it
cannot be tampered with until it gets to your address.This funds will be
shipped to your address through a first class diplomatic means. I have been
assigned to handle this delivery. You are requested to confirm the below
details:
FULL NAMES:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
CLOSEST AIRPORT:
DIRECT CELL PHONE NUMBER:
AGE:
OCCUPATION:
I will proceed to your destination as soon as I hear from you.
Thanks
Mr. John Harvey.
Please give me a call to confirm the receipt of this email: 206-333-1451
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