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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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "00,000.00" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: DELIVERYUPDATE <DELIVERY@themis.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: DIPLOMAT MARK EGO <diplomatmark@mail2mark.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 23:50:17 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Good Day,
Good Day,
I am diplomat agent Mark Ego by name, who is responsible for the delivery of your Consignment box worth 900,000.00 US Dollars (Nine Hundred Thousand united state dollars). I just arrived Montgomery International Airport Alabama. I will proceed with delivery of your consignment box immediately after i have completed my other delivery here in Alabama. The FMF (The Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic) must have informed you that you will have to reconfirm your delivery information to me once i arrive here.
You are the one delaying this delivery. I will leave your Consignment box here and proceed to Canada if you delay much in getting back to me with your delivery info. please be fast to reconfirm your delivery information to me so that once your consignment box is cleared here at the airport i will proceed my delivery to your address once am done with other delivery here in Montgomery Alabama.
Reconfirm your information to me as listed below to avoid wrong delivery. Ensure to avoid any iota of error.
Your full names
Current delivery address
Phone numbers
Other email addresses where i can write you
ID(optional)
Call or Text your delivery information to me via my phone number(334)_352_7963 so that I will be proceeding to your home address instantly.
Bear in Mind to do the Clearance of your Consignment Box package that is now in Alabama. You can go to the airport with the cash or have the money sent to Montgomery Alabama. The amount for the clearance here in USA is $193. Get back to me immediately and do the clearance so that I will complete your delivery.
Note that this is very urgent. I am looking forward to hearing from you as soon as you receive this message.
Thanks for your immersed understanding in this matter and May God bless you.
Best Regards,
Diplomat Mark Ego
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