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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)
- "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)
- "contact the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "god-fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Prince James Urhobo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <princejames02@gmx.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 19:10:57 +0100
Subject: Would You Help Please..............
My Proposal
I would love for you to help me and my younger sister; we are looking a God-fearing person. Let me introduce myself to you. My name is Prince James urhobo and my younger sister Kiyara from Liberia, my consignment containing $25 million dollars is in the United States. The consignment was to be delivering to Mr.kelly smith but we lost him.
The consignments are presently in States. The consignment gets to States through the help of Mr.Don Carlos. He got to the States and clear the consignment from the Airport, he called Mr. Kelly Smith to give him the description to is house for the delivery, but his house maid answered the call and told Mr. Don Carlos, Mr. Kelly Smith hard a cancer (Leukemia) which lead to his death. Please I and my sister seek for your assistant; I want you to stand as our God parent / beneficiary to retrieve the consignment from the diplomat. Please when you call the diplomat you will tell him that you are calling in respect of Prince James urhobo and her sister consignment that is in States. Let him know that you have discussed with me immediately.
Please, contact the Diplomat on time and let me know through mail.
Thanks and God bless you.
Prince James and Princess Kiyara Urhobo
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Anti-fraud resources:
