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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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Wilson Johnson <"WW."@polka.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mr Wilson Johnson <diplomatagent6565@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Oct 2017 08:51:33 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED
YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED
Am your diplomat Agent Mr Wilson Johnson just arrived at J.K.F International Airport NEW YORK,with your consignment box worth of (US$5.200,000,00)but I could not get any response from you. So please email me or text me with (509) 337-4451 now with the re-confirmation of your delivery information: Name,Address, Phone number and the nearest airport I will land to avoid making a wrong delivery.Please Noted That if You Find This email In Your Spam Please No That Is Due To Low Network
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Anti-fraud resources:
