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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:
- "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)
- "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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- diplomatcouncil@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Paul Eze." <xcvxv----xcxcxc@att.net>
Reply-To: diplomatcouncil@hotmail.fr
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 23:33:09 -0800 (PST)
Subject: URGENT Reply Contact the diplomat council now.
Attn;
I am Diplomat Paul Eze from Shallon Courier Company Benin Republic, I have been waiting for you in John F Kennedy international Airport New York for three days with your package which contains $1.5 million USD, but my time has elapsed. Please be informed that your consignment box is in custody of the diplomat council in New York .
Contact the diplomat council with below information.
Contact person: Robert Bowell.
Email ( diplomatcouncil@hotmail.fr )
Kindly reconfirm the below information so that your consignment box will be delivered immediately.
NAME: ========
ADDRESS: =========
MOBILE NO.:===========
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT: ======
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION: ==========
COUNTRY===============
COMPANY REGISTRATION NO: EG58945
CODE NUMBER: 0140479
NOTE: This information is confidential!! Because the Diplomat council does not know the content of the consignment and on no circumstances should you let them know the content, due to I deposited it as a Gift from Africa.
My Regards,
Diplomat Paul Eze.
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Anti-fraud resources:
