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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- diplomat.williamcole@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "william" (may be fake)
Reply-To: < diplomat.williamcole@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:18:53 -0700
Subject: Attention: Beneficiary,
Attention: Beneficiary,
I am a Diplomat named william mandated to deliver your inheritance to you in your country of residence.
The funds total US$5.1 Million and you were made the beneficiary of these funds by a benefactor whose details will be revealed to you after handing over the funds to you in accordance with the Agreement I signed with the benefactor when he enlisted my assistance in delivering the funds to you.
I am presently at JFK International Airport here in the United States of America and before I can deliver the package (funds) to you, you have to reconfirm the following information so as to ensure that I am dealing with the right person
Please confirm to us this information to enable a smooth delivery:
1. Your mailing address for the release of your consignment
2. Your direct telephone number
3. Your direct cell phone number
4. The nearest airport to your mailing location for the delivery of your consignment
After verification of the information with what I have on file, I shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time I will be bringing your package to your residential address.
Send the requested information so that we can proceed.
Best regards,
Diplomat william cole
JFK International Airport,
New York
diplomat.williamcole@hotmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
