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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 united states 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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("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: Diplomat Mark Johnson <chaidd01las@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Diplomat Mark Johnson <diplomatichour48@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 3 May 2016 19:52:43 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attn: Dear
Attn: Â Dear,
Â
good day, I am diplomatic agent convey to deliver your consignment box valued the sum of $4.5Million United States Dollars and i am here to inform you about my successful Arrival in JacksonâEvers International Airport Mississippi USA with your consignment box i am currently in JacksonâEvers International Airport Mississppi to take care of Delivery that we have in here Before coming to your address for your delivery.
Â
Be advice to reconfirm to me the following informationâs to enable me deliver your consignment box to you Please do contact me ASAP.
Â
YOUR FULL NAME: ==================
ADDRESS: ===============
YOUâRE DIRECT
MOBILE NO.:=============
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT:========
A COPY OF YOUR
IDENTIFICATION: ===============
Â
I am waiting for your response once you have receive my email .call or Send me SMS 6627633412
Thanks.
Diplomat Mark Johnson
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Anti-fraud resources: