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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million dollars" (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: Mr Peter Mark <federalreserveb529@gmail.com>
Reply-To: mrpetermark237@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2022 10:56:03 -0700
Subject: Attention Dear Beneficiary
--
Am diplomatic Agent Mr Peter Mark the United Kingdom Diplomatic Agent
20 Craven Park, Harlesden London NW10 United kingdom, I successfully
arrive this morning at JFK International Airport New York with your
ATM MasterCard settlement which worth the sum $10.5 Million Dollars,
However am waiting for you to get back to me with your delivery
Address because once I finish up with some delivery I have here in
New York I will immediately process to your address and delivery your
package to you before I go back to my country,
Re-confirm this to me to enable that am delivering this Compensation
settlement to the rightful owner
Your Fully Name............
Your Country.........
Your City..............
Your Current Home Address....
Your Direct phone Number.............
Your age and occupation.......
Try and get back to me today as soon as possible to enable me proceed
with this delivery, Because if I did not hear from you once I finish
up with delivery I have here in New York City then I will immediately
go back because I don’t have any time to waste here.
Thanks and God Bless You.
Best Regar
THE UNITED KINGDOM
DIPLOMATIC AGENT
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