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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:
- "trunk box" (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: info@unonlinedelivery.com
Reply-To: un.dip.john@gmail.com
Date: 24 Jun 2019 06:06:26 -0400
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONSIGNMENT DELIVERY
DEPARTMENT
YOUR COMPENSATION FUND IS NOW READY TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU IN
YOUR
HOME ADDRESS BY OUR UN DIPLOMAT.
ATTENTION: BENEFICIARY:
How are you doing today I wish to inform you that your
Compensation fund
of US$1.3M has been released by the IMF and is ready for delivery
to your
house in your country by our United Nations Diplomat.
You are required to provide your receiving address as follows!!
YOUR FULL NAME.
YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS.
YOUR PHONE NUMBER
AND FAX NUMBER
I want you to know that all modalities have been put in place for
the
successful delivery of your consignment, as the delivery of your
consignment is 100% Genuine and risk free, as all international
rules and
regulation in consignment delivery has been adhered to for safe
delivery
of your consignment to your country.Your compensation money of
US$1.3M is
now in a trunk box seal with the United Nations seal and will be
opened
upon delivery to your house in your COUNTRY.
We have a copy of the TRUNK BOX full with your Compensation money
before
it was sealed! I can send it for your perusal and verification.
THANK YOU
SIGNED
DIPLOMAT JOHN ALLEN
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Anti-fraud resources:
