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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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)
- "million united states 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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned 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 Taylor" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <johnt_aylor@ymail.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2010 21:21:44 +0100
Subject: I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR URGENT (PARENTAL) ASSISTANCE!
DEAR SIR/MADAM,
I AM JOHN TAYLOR (A 21 YEAR OLD FROM LIBERIA PRESENTLY) PRESENTLY AT THE REFUGEE CAMP
STRANDED IN THAILAND AND MY HERITAGE FROM MY LATE FATHER WHICH IS A CONSIGNMENT (OF 18
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) IS PRESENTLY WITH A DIPLOMAT AT THE JFK INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT NEW YORK USA. DUE TO THE GREEDY NATURE OF MY FIRST BENEFICIARY (MRS WANG CHUSHANG)
WHO AGREED TO ACCEPT 20% BEFORE THE DIPLOMAT LEFT GHANA TO MY GREATEST SURPRISE
AFTER THE DIPLOMAT CALLED HIM TO INFORM HIM OF HIS ARRIVAL IN THAILAND AIRPORT HE CALLED
ME CLAIMING HE HAS CHANGE HIS MIND TOWARD THE 20%, THAT HE WILL TAKE 50% FROM THE
TOTAL FUND. WITH THIS SITUATION I REALIZE THAT HE MIGHT CLAIM THE TOTAL FUND WHEN IT
GETS TO HIM SO I ORDER THE DIPLOMAT TO STOP HIS DELIVERY. REGARDING THIS I AM CONTACTING
YOU TO ALLOW ME PRESENT YOU AS MY NEW BENEFICIARY THAT WILL HELP ME RECEIVE MY CONSIGNMENT.
YOUR DETAILS WILL BE REQUIRED TO GET THE CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP TO YOUR NAMES AND DETAILS
TO ENABLE THE DIPLOMAT DELIVER THE CONSIGNMENT TO YOUR DOOR STEP IMMEDIATELY. I CAN MOVE
OVER TO STAY WITH YOU AND I WILL BE WILLING TO INVEST MY FUND UNDER YOUR CUSTODY IN YOUR
COUNTRY AFTER GIVEN YOU 30% PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL FUNDS DUE TO THIS PRESENT SITUATION
THAT MRS CHUSHANG PUT ME.
HERE IS THE DIPLOMATS NAME AND TELEPHONE FOR AUTHENTICATION/CONFIRMATION:
NAME: DIPLOMAT ROYSON ROONEY
TEL: 00447045732
PLEASE I NEED YOUR PARENTAL ASSISTANCE AND I AM PROMISING TO BE OBEDIENT AND HONEST AS
A SON TO YOU.
PLEASE SEND ME YOUR DETAILS AS REQUESTED BELOW:
FULL NAMES:
TEL:
EMAIL:
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:
SEE ATTACH FOR YOUR PERUSAL (MY ID AND THE AIR WAY BILL FOR THE CONSIGNMENT).
THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND GOD WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH.
YOURS SON
JOHN TAYLOR
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Anti-fraud resources:
