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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: FROM MR GREGORY BROWN <frommrbdl2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrgregorybrown91@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2018 04:44:54 -0700
Subject: THIS MESSAGE IS FROM SAINT PETERSBURG CUSTOM OFFICE IN FLORIDA PLEASE
RESPOND IMMEDIATELY
U.S Customs and Border Protection
14700 Teminal Blvd #120,
Clearwater, FL 33762, United States
From the desk of Mr. Gregory Brown
Good day to you and how are you doing today?
My name is Mr. Gregory Brown from Saint Petersburg Florida. I am
writing to let you know that we received several consignment boxes
signed and Approved by the United
Nations with some different people's names/inscription on the boxes.
Among the consignment boxes that are still in our custody, your name
was included on them. Others are from our New Jersey Customs Office
branch, several banks in Europe and parts of Asia; have all been sent
to our office here in our Saint Petersburg office branch for our
office to make clarification that you received your two consignment
boxes.
Two days ago (Mrs. Susan Brown) sent to us a message stating that she
was a family member of yours and she also said that you are no more
alive and she made us to
understand that you handed over your belonging to her when you were
still alive so therefore the lady is demanding from our office the two
consignment boxes to be released to her as she is trying to stand as
your next of kin but we are still waiting to see if you will respond
to this email before three days’ time because,(HOME LAND SECURITY
REVENUE)(FBI) AND UNITED NATIONS) warned us to be very careful in our
dealings with you and that was the reason we ignored the message from
Mrs. Susan Brown but still awaiting to see if you will respond to
this alert message for us to be sure that you are still alive before
we tell you the next line of action and the best way you can received
your consignment boxes without any more delay on it.
Thanks
Mr. Gregory Brown
Customs Department Director
SAINT Petersburg Florida
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