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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:
- "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 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)
- 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: USA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT <mrschiksosical@gmail.com>
Reply-To: USA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT <mrjehcjohnson@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 May 2015 11:20:11 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GOOD NEWS
MG Timothy J. Lowenberg,Adjutant General
and Director State Military Department Washington Military Dept.,
Bldg1 Camp Murry ,Wash 98430-5000 USA
This is Mr.jeh Charles Johnson Secretary of us.homeland security department.we know that you have not received Your fund from Africa! we have finally cash your abandoned long-lost check confirming to be your won compensation funds and we decided to boxed the money for avoiding expiry of the check because it has stayed long in our custody searching for the contact to reach you,after our investigation we discovered that the money is not an illegal payment, The fund values the sum of $4.5 million dollars. So kindly reconfirm your full details via email and call +2296 845 0912 Him as instructed below.
1. Full name.........
2. Phone number...................
3. Current home address............
4. Occupation..................
5. Nearest Airport................
I wait for your urgent and positive respond.
You can call Mr.Jeh Charles Johnson at: +2296 845 0912 the director of overseas payment of the presidency office who is in charge to give instruction approval to releasing the boxed-money consignment to me for onwards delivering it to you.
Sincerely Yours
Mrs. Eelisabetta Bbrivido
Secretary us department of homeland security.
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Anti-fraud resources:
