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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)
- "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)
- "trunk boxes" (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)
- "mrselizabethsmith@foxmail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "mrselizabethsmith@foxmail.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: "Mrs. Elizabeth Smith" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrselizabethsmith@foxmail.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 12:39:29 -0500
Subject: Consignment Information.
Mrs. Elizabeth Smith
Inspection Unit.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
I am Mrs. Elizabeth Smith Director Inspection Unit United Nations Inspection Agent in Hartsfield International Airport Atlanta Georgia. The discovered abandoned shipment from a Diplomat and which was scanned and it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in two Metal Trunk Boxes weighing approximately 110kg each. The consignment which was abandoned because of the Diplomats inability to pay for Non Inspection Fees.Each of the boxes contain more than $6 to $8M each and the consignment is still left in storage house till today.
The details of the consignment including your name in the official document from United Nation office in London are tagged on the Metal Trunk box.One Mr. Richard came to this office today to claim the two metal boxes on your behalf saying that you sent him to do so without informing us that you are bankrupt like he informed us. I am ready to work it out with you and deliver it to your address and benefit from it if you agree to share it with me.
Do Provide your Phone and Fax Number Email and full address, name of nearest Airport around and other details . You can send the required details to me for onward delivery.
All communication must be held extremely confidential. I can get everything concluded within 3-6 hours upon your acceptance and proceed to your address for delivery.
But I must get assurance from you concerning my 50% before I will proceed. I want us to transact this business and share the money, since the shippers have abandoned it and ran away. I will pay for the Non inspection fee and arrange for the boxes to be moved out of this Airport to your address, I will bring it by myself to avoid any more trouble. But you have to assure me of my 50%.
In your receipts of this message, Kindly email me back at: mrselizabethsmith@foxmail.com
Mrs. Elizabeth Smith
Inspection Officer.
E-mail: mrselizabethsmith@foxmail.com
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