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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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "LAURENCE WEISS" <careisuu@gmail.com>
Reply-To: careisu98@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2017 18:09:57 -0400
Subject: CONSIGNMENT UPDATE
I am diplomat Laurence Weiss, mandated to deliver your consignment to you
in your country of residence and I am currently at Dreams Hotel Nashville
International Airport Tennessee United States of America.
The consignment you were made the beneficiary of these funds by a
benefactor whose details will be revealed to you after handling over the
consignment to you in accordance with the agreement I signed with the
benefactor when he enlisted my assistance in delivering the funds to you.
I am presently at Nashville International Airport Tennessee United States
of America. and before i can deliver the consignment (funds) to you, you
have to reconfirm the following information so as to ensure that your
details corresponds with the documents and delivery details i have here
with me.
However you are to send me the below information to enable me deliver your
consignment to your door step and to avoid any wrong delivery of your
consignment.
Full Name:
Full Home Address:
Direct Phone Number:
Driver's License
Occupation:
Best Regards
Dip. Laurence Weiss
Diplomat
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Anti-fraud resources: