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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Johnson Duke" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dip_johnson1962@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 14:03:06 +0100
Subject: I JUST ARRIVED YOUR COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WITH YOUR PACKAGE!!!
Attn: Beneficiary,
I'm diplomat Johnson Duke; I have been trying to reach you on your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival in your Airport with your two boxes of consignment worth $3.8Musd which I have been instructed to be delivered to you.
I am presently at Airport and before I can deliver the funds to you, you have to reconfirm the following information so as to ensure that I am dealing with the right person and for easy identification on meeting with you.
1. Full Name…………...................
2. Residential Address……...................
City:.................
Province:..............
3. Age……....................
4. Occupation...........................
5. Direct Telephone Numbers:...................
6. nearest Airport................................
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 I can proceed to meet you.
Regards,
Dip.Johnson Duke
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Anti-fraud resources:
