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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)
- "a diplomat " ("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: "David Williams" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <david.williams101@consultant.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 10:08:22 +0100
Subject: WE NEED TOO TALK
My name is David Williams and am contacting you as Regards to your Consignment which has not been delivered to you,I am contacting you on behalf of my superior Mr Paul Pollard who gave your contact so that we can solve your delivery puzzle which has been taking long to dispatch at your designated address as stated on your email.
Also am not a diplomat but am a consultant that work with the RED CROSS organization which i have travelled diffrent countries around the world over 270 countries where i have gone to dispatch diffrent items,on your delivery issues i shall verify and find out before i will proceed on issue of the consignment before delivery is made to your designated address.
I will make immediate contacts with you once i get your consignment number and code so that i can start the process of the delivery to your designated address as stated by me i will call you once i finish with the verification of the consignment number then tell you what to be done for this delivery to be effected in less 24 hours.
I will call you with further details on delivery of your consignment once am done with finding out what has been delaying the delivery of this particular consignment.
I will update you as soon as i get any update regarding your delivery.
Regard
David Williams
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