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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)
- "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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- embassydiplomaticcourierr@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "BARR.JOHN OWEN" <JONOWEN@E-MAIL.UA>
Reply-To: johnnowen@E-MAIL.UA
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 08:30:47 -0400
Subject: REPLY IMMEDIATELY
Attn: My Dear Friend,
We wish to inform you that the diplomatic agent conveying the consignment box
valued the sum of $1.850;000 Million United States Dollars misplaced your
address and he is currently stranded at your International airport now.We
required you reconfirm the following in formations below so that he can
deliver your consignment box to you today.
(1)YOUR FULL NAME: _______
(2)HOME/OFFICE ADDRESS: ________
(3)MOBILE PHONE NUMBER: _______
(4)NAME OF YOUR NEAREST AIRPORT: _______
(5)A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION: __________
Please do contact the diplomatic agent with the email below with the
information's required. Contact Person : Mr.Mike Hings EMAIL;(
embassydiplomaticcourierr@yahoo.fr )
He is waiting to hear from you today with the information's..NOTE : The
Diplomatic agent does not know that the content of the consignment box is
$1,850;000 Millions United States Dollars and on no
circumstances should you let him know the content..The consignments was moved
from here as family treasures, so never allow him
to open the box.
Thanks
Barrister John Owen at,,, johnnowen@e-mail.ua
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Anti-fraud resources:
