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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "phillip_morgan@discuz.org" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "NIGERIAN DIPLOMATIC COMMISSION" (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:34:23 +0100
Subject: DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE BY THE NIGERIAN DIPLOMATIC COMMISSION
NIGERIAN DIPLOMATIC COMMISSION
45. Tinubu Square Victoria Island Lagos Nigeria
Tel: 234-813-669-2244
Mr. Philip Morgan
phillip_morgan@discuz.org
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DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE BY THE NIGERIAN DIPLOMATIC COMMISSION
I am a Diplomat by name Philip Morgan,mandated to deliver your inheritance to you in your country of residence.
The funds total is US$7.5 Million and you were made the beneficiary of these funds by a benefactor whose details will be revealed to you after handing over the funds to you in accordance with the
Agreement I signed with the benefactor when he enlisted my assistance in delivering the funds to you.
We have done our due diligence and have confirmed that the package rightfully belongs to you and it is no threat to National Security. Consequently, we have agreed that the delivery of this package
of yours be completed without further delay and has been mandated to be effected within 72 hours.
However, before the delivery is effected, we need you to reconfirm the following informations so that the funds will not be delivered to someone else.
1.Full Name
2.Residential Address
3.Age
4.Occupation
5.Direct Telephone Numbers
After verification of the information with what I have on file,I shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time I will be bringing your package to your residential address.
Send the requested information so that we can proceed.
Regards,
Philip Morgan
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