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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "a diplomat " ("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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Gibson Solundo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bsicbenin@ciudad.com.ar>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 16:43:50 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS! PLEASE DO NOT DELETE THIS.
Dear Friend,
This is to inform you that I have finally succeeded in getting those funds release to us. Presently I'm in Asia with my own share of the fund for investment project as we agreed.
I was able to get the fund out of the country with the assistance of a Diplomat without any problem, Your own share of the fund $1.5M, I packaged it well and left it with the diplomat informing him that you will be getting in contact with him so I will encourage you therefore to get in contact with him so that he can deliver your fund to you without any delay.
His name and contact information's is below:
Name: Diplomat Milton Priye.
Tel: +229 982 34 042
E-MAIL: diplomatic_miltonpriye@e-mail.ua
Instruct him where to send your fund.
You are advice to call the diplomat on phone immediately you send him email.
Best Regards,
Mr. Gibson Solundo.
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Anti-fraud resources:
