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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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("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)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "anthonybryan@e-mail.ua" (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: "Dr. George Anderson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <anthony_bryan334@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:24:15 -0700
Subject: Package Arrival Notice
Attention Beneficiary,
We wish to inform you that we have finally succeeded in getting your package worth of $8,500,000 million USD out of (ECOWAS) Economic Community of West African States department with the help of Mr James Gidado Attorney General of Federal High Court of Justice Benin Republic who acted as your Attorney and legal representative here in Benin Republic.
Be informed that every necessary arrangement has been successfully made with the Diplomat Agent Anthony Bryan in custody of the Consignment Box and every Documents guiding your delivery is well updated so you are advice to reconfirm your full delivery information to the Agent right now as he is currently at J.F.K Airport New York with your Consignment Box. He called me this morning to inform me that he misplaced your delivery address which he has due to Customs in JFK Airport questions about the Box as if he is a terrorist entering your country but finally I thank God that they have confirmed that his movement is clear and genuine without any suspicious intention to your country only to deliver this Consignment Box to you and the documents are updated as I earlier told you.
So you are advice to reconfirm your full delivery information to the diplomat Agent Anthony Bryan and call him Immediately because he has limited time to complete the delivery and has no time to waste. Contact him to deliver your consignment box possibly today or first thing tomorrow morning, also send the required information.
Diplomatic Agent : Agent Anthony Bryan
Email : ( anthonybryan@e-mail.ua )
Telephone : 917-310-7806
Delivery Information
(1) Your Full Name=============
(2) Current Home Address======
(3) Mobile / Phone Number =======
(4) City=====================
(5) Nearest Airport = =============
(6) A Copy of Your I D For Identification.
Note : Remember that the Agent Anthony Bryan delivering the Consignment Box does not know the content of that consignment box is money, Because the Attorney which represented you at (ECOWAS) registered it as a ( AFRICA ART CRAFTS) to avoid hitch during the delivery so unknown circumstances should you let him know the content of that consignment box is 8.5 million usd to avoid lost of your fund as your Consignment was Sign and Stamp by Federal Ministry of Justice to make sure that it is protected until it gets to you. Give him your maximum cooperation to complete his mission.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr. George Anderson
Coordinator.
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