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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "a diplomat " ("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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- diplomat_petersmith01@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DIPLOMAT PETER SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diplomat_petersmith01@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:36:14 -0700
Subject: I AM CURRENTLY AT THE AIRPORT
Attention:
I am a Diplomat named Mr Peter Smith, mandated to deliver your
funds to you in your country of residence. 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.
I am presently at the International Airport and before I can deliver the
funds to you, you have to reconfirm the following information
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 funds to your residential address. Send the requested
information immediately so that I can proceed to your address.
Reply to this email, diplomat_petersmith01@yahoo.com.hk
Regards
Diplomat Peter Smith
Tel: +1 (916) 866-8236
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