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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:
- "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)
- "officemail101@qq.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Diplomat Andrew Peter
Reply-To: <office4909@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2020 07:37:25 -0700
Subject: VIEW MESSAGE c
Attention Beneficiary
Dear,
I am Diplomat Andrew Peter , the United Nations special diplomat assigned to deliver your Consignment (World Bank approved fund valued US$10,625,000.00. Ten Million Six Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand United States Dollars)As a matter of urgency I hereby request you to immediately reconfirm your delivery details to enable me proceed without delays for the delivery of your consignment box to your doorstep.
Please Kindly contact us here: officemail101@qq.com
Delivery Receiver Name:
Delivery Address:
Direct Telephone No:City:
Name of your nearest airport:Company Name:Your Age:
I look forward to meeting you in person for the handover/delivery of your consignment box.
Yours Sincerely,
Diplomat Andrew Peter
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Anti-fraud resources: