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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)
- "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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Robert F. Williams." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <robertf.williams171@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:44:54 +0100
Subject: Delivery of your consignment to your door step.
Dear Sir,
We wish to inform you that your fund which you have been processing for some period of years is coming through a diplomatic means to your door steps in cash. We are a diplomatic attached to OCC (Overseas Credit Commission).
We advice you to forward to this department your home address where you want the consignment to be delivered and your telephone number, and also your International Passport or Drivers' License for Identification.
As soon as we receive this information required the consignment briefcase of $2.5m will be forwarded to you immediately and the date of our officer arriving will be given to you.
We wait your reply.
Dr. Robert F. Williams.
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Anti-fraud resources:
