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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million us 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)
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "diplomatic courier" ("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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- ms_lumumba2@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mike Lumumba" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ms_lumumba2@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2017 17:48:51 +0200
Subject: Mike funds
I am Mike Shuma Lumumba the grandson of the late Patrice Lumumba of DR Congo, I need your urgent assistance with getting my funds delivered to you and also to help me get over to the States as soon as possible for medical treatment. This is about the fund of 32 million us dollars and derived from the sale of my diamonds and gold bars that has now arrived in Dalls, Texas with an American Diplomatic Courier. I aquired Diplomatic immunity so it is a Diplomatic pouch which means the content is secured always. I have faith you can help by receiving the money from the courier and also assisting with the necessary traveling documents for my sister and I move out of Here to America.
I know you are a capable force and can assist since everything is safe and legal only i can not travel to the US now so you will have to take the funds from the diplomatic courier who has promised to do so with no hassle and after which i will instruct you on where to keep the balance until i make it to the states.
Let me know your decision and am willing to answer any and all questions you might have. You are very much trusted and i have been assured of your credibility.
Mike
ms_lumumba2@yahoo.com
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