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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:
- "security keeping fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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: frank don <"www."@sound.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: frank don <jerrymike081@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2017 18:33:05 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION SIR/MA I'm Diplomatic Agent Dr.Jerry mikel,I just want
to inform
ATTENTION SIR/MA
I'm Diplomatic Agent Dr.Jerry mikel,I just want to inform
you about my successful arrival in San Diego International
Airport CaliforniaUSA,with your ATM MASTER/VISA CARD worth
of $1.7Million United State Dollars.the only thing that is
still delaying me here is Delivery Permit that is needed and
security keeping fee the Airport Authority has advise that we
get the document for custom to enable me pass out and complete
delivery to you home and the cost of both is $50 USD.
Reconfirm below information
Your Name__________
Home Address________
Direct Phone Number________
Your Copy of Id Card____________
Your occupation______________
Regards. Diplomatic
Agent Dr.Jerry mikel,
call or sms (720) 549-3120
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Anti-fraud resources:
