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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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)
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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.
- dr.hohnsoncole88@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Johnson Cole" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <dr.hohnsoncole88@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2015 14:19:51 -0800
Subject: International Fund Management Bureau
International Fund Management Bureau
United Nations London [UK]
Our Ref: ifmb/uk/036/015.
I am Dr. Johnson Cole, Head of Operations International Fund Management Bureau - United Nations London [UK]. Dear friend, We have been making arrangement for you to receive your outstanding funds through consignment cash delivery since you reside abroad which I decided to contact you personally 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 fund to you via cash delivery system to your home address; this system will be easier for you and for us. We are going to send your fund total sum of US$7.5Million to you via diplomatic courier services. The 2 consignment boxes are accompanied with every vital document that covers your fund. Note here that these funds are electronically sealed in 2 security boxes and paddled with machine. I will make use of my position here to release these funds to you. The boxes are coming with a Courier agent who will deliver them to you at your receiving address a
1. Your Full Name: .........
2. Resident Address: .......
3. Age & Sex: ..............
4. Occupation: .............
5. Cell Phone#: ............
6. Country of Origin: ......
7. Scan Copy of ID: ........
8. Current Email Address: ..
Kindly note that the courier agent does not know the content in these boxes; the content was declared to him as a family inheritance. I have obtained the consignment tag sticker that will be tag on the boxes which shall be dispatch alongside with the security code to enable you access your boxes as soon as the diplomat arrive your home. The only thing you're require to do here is to make readily available the require fee for the handling clearance charges at the port of entry when the diplomat arrive your country airport. Kindly reply back to this office and contact us immediately with the above requested information for immediate commencement of your
delivery packages to your address. Please you are advice to use part of this funds to assist and visit the charity homes in your community for financial support.
Sincerely,
Dr. Johnson Cole,
Int'l Fund Management Bureau,
London, United Kingdom [UK].
Email:dr.hohnsoncole88@yahoo.com.hk
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