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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "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)
- 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.
- diplomatrichard320@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR.GEORGE BROWN" <amark@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: diplomatrichard320@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2013 18:08:03 +0800 (CST)
Subject: contact the diplomat in new York you will receive the ATM card from the diplomat or call 2052946780
Dear Beneficiary,
This is to inform that your fund $1.500,000.00
Unitedhas been Converted into ATM Card the diplomat Mr. Richard Smith is now in
united states with your ATM Card $1.500,000.00
United to deliver to your address,contact the
diplomat ( diplomatrichard320@yahoo.com ) or call 2052946780 you will receive
the card from the diplomat .Call the Diplomat 2052946780 you will receive the
ATM Card From him he is waiting to hear from you as he is now in theA united
states at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Contact diplomat with your full information your
phone number and house address he will deliver the atm card to you
immediately.
What you will do immediately you receive the card
you take the card to any ATM machine and start withdrawing money
immediately.
Update me once you receive the ATM
Card.
Thanks for your understanding.
Best Regards
DR.GEORGE
BROWN
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