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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)
- "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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (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.
- stephenmark55@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: stephen mark <javierrobert35@gmail.com>
Reply-To: stephenmark55@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 00:24:09 -0700
Subject: WORLD FUND DISCOVERY MANAGEMENT AND PAYMENT
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WORLD FUND DISCOVERY MANAGEMENT AND PAYMENT
Attn,My Dear Friend I am Dr. Stephen Mark Director of World Fund Financial
Management and Payment Bureau. I decided to contact you because of the
prevailing financial report reaching my office in London United Kingdom.
This is to inform you about our plan to send your fund to you via
diplomatic cash delivery; this system will be easier for you and for us. We
are going to send your over due funds total sum of US$2.5Million to you via
courier service. The package is accompanied with every document that covers
these funds. Note that this fund is coming in one security proof box which
are sealed with Synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine.
I will use my position to release this fund to you. The box are coming with
a Courier agent who will deliver them to you at your home address after
clearing the package at the airport.
All you are requiring to do now is to reconfirm the following information
below.
1. Your full Name:_________
2. home Address: ________
3. Age & Sex: ____________
4. Occupation: ___________
5. Cell Phone: _________
6 Country:______________
7. Scan Copy of Identity___
8 Contact Email Address:________
Note: That the agent does not know the content in the box, which was
declared to him as Sensitive Photographic Film Materials. I have obtained
the necessary documents needed over here in London which will be tagged on
the box which the diplomat will dispatch along with, as soon as the
diplomat arrives your address i will send you the security code of the the
two consignment packages to enable you access the boxes
Reply to this email: stephenmark55@yahoo.com
Regards,
Dr. Stephen Mark
World Fund Management And Reconciliation
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Anti-fraud resources:
