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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "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 state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- barneygabrielladiplomatic@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Diplomatic Agent Barney Gabriella <barneygabrielladiplomatic@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2015 21:55:28 +0000
Subject: Attention: I am Mrs. Berney Gabriella @ your country Airport
Attention:
I am Diplomat Mrs. Barney Gabriella I have been trying to reach you on
your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my
successful arrival in Entebbe International Airport with your two
boxes of consignment worth $3.5 Million United State Dollars which I
have been instructed by United State.
The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to
prove to them that the fund is no way related with neither drug nor
fraud money, I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are
very much pleased with the paper Please try and reach me here as I can
not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery.
I want you to know that you have 24 hours to contact me you may know I
do not want the security company where this Consignment is lodged to
start raising an eye brow because of the length of time it has stayed.
However, before the delivery is effected, we need you to reconfirm the
following informations so that the funds will not be delivered to
someone else.
1. Full Name:
2. Residential Address:
3. Direct Telephone Numbers:
After verification of the information with what I have on file, I
shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time I
will be bringing your package to your residential address.
Verification should be sent to my direct email address
barneygabrielladiplomatic@gmail.com.
Send the requested information so that we can proceed.
Regard.
Diplomat Mrs. Berney Gabrie.
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Anti-fraud resources:
