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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)
- "million 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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr.Williams Johnson" <fdgd@email.biz>
Reply-To: dr.williamsjohnson@diplomats.com
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2015 13:58:29 -0800
Subject: I JUST ARRIVED SAWYER AIRPORT MICHIGAN WITH YOUR
CONSIGNMENT VALUED AT USD$5.8 MILLION DO
- This mail is in HTML. Some elements may be ommited in plain text. -
Diplomat Williams Johnson
Our Ref: xx78/mp5/US09
Your Ref:
PHONE:+1313-355-9491
Date: 13/2/2015
Attention:Beneficiary,
Compliment of the Day,
I am a Diplomat named Dr.Williams Johnson, I just arrived Sawyer Airport Michigan with your
Consignment Valued usd$5.8 Million Dollars in Cash sealed in a box,Kindly reconfirm the followings below
1. Full Name
2. Residential Address
3. Age
4. Occupation
5. Direct Telephone Numbers
6. A Copy of Your Identification.
I will be bringing your package to your residential address.
Send the requested information so that we can proceed.
Regards,
Diplomat Dr.Williams Johnson
Sawyer International Airport Michigan
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Anti-fraud resources:
