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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)
- "trunk box" (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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "keep it confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- "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: "Mr. John Wagner" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <firstbankaa@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2016 17:53:13 -0300
Subject: Office of Investigations SAC Office
Racetrack Road Office.
10 Racetrack Road,
N.d.. Fort Walton Beach, FL 11547
Office of Investigations SAC Office
Dear:
My Name is Dr J. Wagner a US Customs officer in charge of inspections Unit
US Customs border protection Taxes In USA. .
I know you will be surprised receiving this message from me
hence we do not know each other before , but nevertheless feel free
read the message very carefully and understand the reasons why I
contacted you. However I knew in the first place that internet scam messages has
created alot of droughts world wide today but do not ignore or
disregard this message as scam it is legit .
Last year December 16 TH 2015,I personally
discovered an abandoned two Diplomatic consignment boxes in our
seizure storage room here in INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT here In Taxes USA and after
scanning the two boxes I discovered that it was defaced 100 bill
dollars note all through approximately $10 million dollars . Each box
contain $5 million. Meanwhile after my due proper investigation to
know the source or
country the consignment boxes was sent to the United States I
discovered that it was from west Africa Nigeria owned by one of the
corrupt government politicians and the fund was sent for safe keeping
in one of the Bank here in New York before it was arrested and seized.
Note that the diplomatic Agent who conveyed the boxes on his arrival
here in AIRPORT around 12 am in the midnight the Agent could
not be able to identify the content of the two consignment boxes and
now on the run from the airport and ran away till this date no way
to be found .
I am contacting you personally on a good arrangement in order to use
your name /address to move the trunk boxes to your custody for our
mutual sharing, I agree to offer you 20% of the total fund upon your
consent to receive the consignment boxes in your name.
I assure you that this deal is 100% risk free as long as I am
concerned and with my position as the Boss of inspection control unit
of the customs I will protect the transaction until you receive the
two consignment boxes in good faith without problem.
Please if this message find you interesting to work with me kindly get
back to me immediately for further proceedings and send me your
private telephone number and your address and your nearest airport
where I will deliver the trunk boxes to your custody.
Please try to keep this transaction absolutely confidential for
security reasons in order to protect my interest even if you are not
interested I expect you to still keep it confidential .
I hope to hear from you immediately to enable us expedite actions
towards moving the trunk boxes from our customs Unit to your
custody. Thank you for your understanding and expect your prompt response to
work with me.
My Regards to you and your family.
Mr. John Wagner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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