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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)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned 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: "STEVEN BABAMENSHA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <stevenbabamensha@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 16:33:11 -0700
Subject: Help me recieve my consignment box
Dear Sir,Ma
My name is Steven Babamensha a 23 years old political refugee in Sierra Leone my latefather was a former Minister in Liberia during the reign of EX president Charles Taylor of Liberia,before his death he deposited the sum of 4 Million Euro into a consignment box with aspen delivery company and kept it in there vault that is attached to the South Africa Embassy in Germany.
I got your contacts from the united nations refugee camp board that you are a good man who can be trusted to assist me receive the money and help me travel out of Africa to your country to want you to use your good position to invest the funds for me.
I am willing to give you 40% for your effort as soon as the money in the consignment box get to you.
Please get back to me for more details.
Regards
Steven
stevenbabamenshagmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
