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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- johnfranciskelly0@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: " Mr.John Francis Kelly" <"mary."@etude.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: " Mr.John Francis Kelly" <johnfranciskelly0@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:16:53 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Text or call me on my USA lineL: +1(202) 849 525
FROM .. HOME LAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT!!
MG Timothy J. Lowenberg,Adjutant General
and Director State Military Department Washington Military Dept.,
Bldg1 Camp Murry ,Wash 98430-5000 USA
This is Mr.John Francis Kelly of 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,we cash the monies and we decided to boxed the money for avoiding expiry of the check because it has stayed long in our custody searching for your contact to reach you,after our investigation that we discovered that the money is not an illegal payment, The fund values the sum of $10.5 million dollars. So kindly reconfirm your full details via email:(johnfranciskelly0@gmail.com)as instructed below.
1. Full name.........
2. Phone number...................
3. Current home address............
4. Occupation..................
5. Nearest Airport................
You can call Mr.Jerry Mark at : +229-99289056 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
Mr.John Francis Kelly
Secretary us department of homeland security.
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Anti-fraud resources:
