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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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- 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.
- officecoo5576@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Richard Currier" <worldfundmanagement31@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officecoo5576@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 07:27:29 +0100
Subject: Your Payment Notification
--
I am Mr.Richard Currier Director of World Fund Management and Payment
Bureau. I decided to contact you because of the prevailing financial report
reaching my office and the intense nature of policy here in London UK. We
are here to inform you about our plan to send your funds to you via cash
delivery system; this system will be easier for you and for us. We are
going to send your funds total sum of US$7.3Million to you via courier
delivery service. The 2 packages are accompanied with every vital document
that covers your funds.
Note that these funds are coming in 2 security proof boxes which are sealed
with Synthetic nylon seal and padded with machine. I will make use of my
position to release this fund to you. The boxes are coming with a Courier
agent who will deliver them to you at your receiving home address after
clearing the 2 consignment packages at your country airport.
All you are required to do now is to reconfirm the following information
below to enable us commence immediately.
1. Your Full Name:
2. Home Address:
3. Age & Sex:
4. Occupation:
5. Cell Phone#:
6. State of Origin:
7. Country:
Note the Agent does not know the content in these boxes, the content was
declared to him as a family inheritance. I have obtain the consignment tag
that will be tag on the boxes which shall be dispatch along with the
security code to enable you access them as soon as the diplomat deliver
them to you.
Regards,
Mr. Richard Currier
Reply to this email:officecoo5576@yahoo.co.jp
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