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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 united states 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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "contact 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. )
- "diplomatmark89@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "Bar.Michael Dean" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <diplomatmark@yahoo.cn>
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2012 06:32:44 -0700
Subject: CALL YOUR DIPLOMAT AGENT +1 347 349 9935 HE IS STRIDENT WITH YOUR PACKAGE AT NEW YORK
CALL YOUR DIPLOMAT AGENT +1 347 349 9935 HE IS STRIDENT WITH YOUR
PACKAGE AT NEW YORK
Please Your Urgent Attention Is Needed,
We wish to inform you that the diplomatic agent conveying the
consignment box valued the sum of $4.7 Million United States Dollars
misplaced your address and he is currently stranded at your
international airport right now call his phone Number .
We required you reconfirm the following informations below so that he
can deliver your consignment box to you today +1 347 349 9935
NAME: ==================
ADDRESS: ===============
MOBILE NO.:=============
NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT:========
A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION :===============
YOUR POST OFFICE ADDRESS;P.O BOX;===============
Please do contact the diplomatic agent with the email below with the
informations required.
Contact Person : CHINENYE JOHN CASSIDY
EMAIL diplomatmark89@w.cn
For security reason read bellow:- I did not let the delivery Agent
know's that your consignment box contain the above mentioned amount of
United States Dollars and on No circumstances should you let him
knowte content is $4.7M USD(CASH). The consignments was moved from
here as family treasures, so never allow him to open the box untill it
get to your base.This is for security reason.
Just suply the above requirment infos and also use the CODE as a
subject matter to him:- CONIGNMENT CODE:CAF/XX/05.
Regards
Thanks.
Bar.Michael Dean
SCARLET COURIER COMPANY 00229 98274499
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