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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)
- "trunk box" (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 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "James Robinson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jamesr1478027@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2021 16:59:24 +0200
Subject: NOTICE FOR AN ABANDONED CONSIGNMENT
Attn:
My name is James Robinson, Chief Inspection Agent- United Nations Inspection Unit at one of the International Airports in united state here
(undisclosed) During our investigation, we discovered an abandoned shipment from a Diplomat, and when scanned it revealed an undisclosed sum of money in
the metal trunk box weighing approximately 25kg and your name and address was tagged on it The consignment was abandoned because the Content was not properly
declared by the consignee as money rather it was declared as personal effect to avoid diversion by the shipping agent.
On my assumption, The box will contain about twenty three Million dollars and the consignment is still left in the storage house till today and the
consignments assessments are (Internal dimension: W61 x H156 x D73 (cm). Effective capacity: 110 LBS.).
We will have smooth delivery of this consignment to you with all detailed information that will be needed for claim on your behalf if
you will assure us your readiness to claim the shipments and secure them in your possession. Sharing and other conditions will be discuss
once we hear from you.you can call me on this number +1281 861 1404
Thank you
James Robinson
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