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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:
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "diplomatdonald@globomail.com" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Promo Office Benin Republic" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diplomatdonald@globomail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 14:19:02 +0100
Subject: Coca-Cola Groups release your winning through consignment delivery
Dear value customer,
We hereby reminds you of your un-claim lucky winning at the World cup ticket Promo which you were not able to retrieve from our redemption agent in cash during our Online disbursement during the FIFA WOLRD CUP sponsorship by our COCA-COLA GROUPS from 11th June - July 2010. Please be informed that our representating diplomatic agents is conveying your funds $350,000 in cash consignment box but was stranded and miss-placed your contact address, due to security reasons we do not disclose the real content of the box to the diplomat and deface the value as your family treasure.
Contact the diplomat now with the below info and find out exactly where he is located with your box HS-151-BJ as the identification tag.
Agent: Diplomat Donald
Email: diplomatdonald@globomail.com
Send the following data to the diplomat and enable him locate/deliver your consignment box now. YOUR FULL NAME, ADDRESS, MOBILE NUMBER, NEAREST AIRPORT & IDENTIFICATION COPY.
We wish you the best of celebration this season.
Barr. Festus Bakari
Coca-Cola Groups
Legal Directorates
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Anti-fraud resources:
