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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)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Martha Henderson." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <martha.henerson@onet.pl>
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2016 11:26:24 +0300
Subject: I have a very good news for you
Atten: Beneficiary.
I have a very good news for you, which is that of your Cash Box that was prevented entry into United States and impounded by the action Financial task force has be returned back to the United Kingdon.
We were able to retrieve the package out from the British Customs with the assistance of my contact person at the Queen Palace here in Britain, who made the British Customs to believed that Cash funds was for United Nation`s Charity from the Burg ham Palace, entrusting under your custody.
The cash funds amounting to the sum U.S$10.5 Million was deposited with a Finance Company in europ under your name being the beneficiary. You are advised to get back to me immediately you receive this mail and forward to me the below:
1). Your Contact Home Address
2). Your Means Of Identification
Kindly be informed that it will enable me submit it to the Finance Company to start processing for Via Delivery Agent to you. Please note that I had an understanding with this fellow at the Burg ham Palace that you are to offer him 5% of the total money immediately the Consignment is delivered to your door step.
Please do call me through my direct telephone number: +44 7430 573304. so as to enable us talk.
I expect your immediate respond.
Thanking you in advance for your co-operation.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Martha Henderson.
Tel: +44 7430 573304.
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