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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:
- "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 us 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)
- "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)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "DR.MRS. REGINA CORAZON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <reginacora@gala.net>
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2011 23:35:13 +0100
Subject: YOUR PACKAGE DELIVERY
UNITED NATIONS IN CONJUCTION WITH ECONOMIC COMMUNITY FOR WEST AFRICAN STATES(ECOWAS)(WORLD BANK ASSISTED PROGRAMME) DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT AND TRANSFERS/Diplomatic Cash Payment Deliveries.
UNITED KINGDOM
Our Ref: WB/NF/UN/XX027/2011
Tel:+441614084513
ATTENTION:CATEGORY A BENEFICIARY.
Hello and how are you doing today. I wanted you to know that the funds was released from West -Africa and now in Philadephia. It was carried by our diplomat Michael Barnabas and the funds is now in Philadephia in USA at the present time.
The funds are now lying with the diplomat who brought the funds from west africa to philadephia and the consign,ent is contained the sum of 1.5 Million US Dollars. The diplomat doesn't know the content of what is in the consignment he brought to USA . On the documents that were given out to him he was told the consignment contains industrial items and documents. So, please do not let him know the content of the consigment.
Till it is delivered to you and opened by you. You will be given the passcode to open the consignment box as soon as we comfirm its had been delivered and signed by you.
When contacting him don't let him know that the consignment contains Money, which he had brought to USA.
You will be contacting the diplomat for the delivery of the consignment to you. Below its his contact information's. You give him a call and let him know your location so that the consignment can be delivered to you.
You also send to him your contact phone number and address with the belo
w email.
Name: Michael Barnabas
Email: mbarn76@blumail.org
Phone: 267 248 1574
When contacting him you send him your address and phone number and make sure you give him a call. Its important you give him a call. Please do let me know as soon as you contact the diplomat.
Yours truely
Dr Mrs Regina Corazon (Director)
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