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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)
- "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: Louis Dejoy <agentjerry0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: uspcouriercompany918@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2022 00:53:02 -0800
Subject: ATTENTION: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED.
Attn:
I'm diplomatic agent Mr Mohammed Richard I have been trying to reach
you on your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my
successful arrival in JFK Intl Airport New York with your consignment
box worth $10.5M usd which I have been instructed by Mr James from
usps to be delivered to you, After last week meeting they agreed
together to release your consignment box which has been there over
many months.I want you to stay around because I will not waste time
here to locate your address today.
Kindly reconfirm your address as follows.
Age............
Home address........
Cell phone number......
Full name...............
Nearest Airport..........
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Anti-fraud resources:
