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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)
- "million 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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Frank Williams <"www."@woody.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Frank Williams <frankwillams26@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2017 04:30:31 +0900 (JST)
Subject: I am diplomat Frank Williams,
I am diplomat Frank Williams,
This is to inform you about my successful arrival in John F.Kennedy International Airport New York City with your cash consignment worth $5.5 million united state dollars Inheritance Compensation fund from ECOWAS together with the United States,Which I have been instructed by the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank to be delivered to you.
you are advised to contact me immediately as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care of in Australia. I want you to know that you have 72 hours to get back to me.However, before the delivery of the consignment to you,We need you to reconfirm your currently delivery information so that the funds will not be delivered to the wrong person.
1. Full name:
2. Country/city:
3. Residential address:
4. Direct telephone numbers:
5. Valid identification:
You can also reach me at (+1 202 856-7175) leave text to me if am enable to answer.
After verification of the information with what I have on file, I shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time I will be bringing your Consignment to your residential address.Send the requested information so that we can proceed and deliver the Consignment to you immediately.
Regards
Diplomat Frank Williams.
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Anti-fraud resources:
