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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:
- "hundred thousand us 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 the diplomat" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- landmarkcouriercompany5@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Landmark Courier Company <markovicsasa@eunet.rs>
Reply-To: landmarkcouriercompany5@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2021 08:40:19 -0700
Subject: DELIVERY OF YOUR FUNDS
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TO MRS /MRS.
We write to inform you that the diplomat that was sent to deliver your
portfolio to the above address::::::, which contains the sum of four
million seven hundred thousand US dollars ($4.700.000.00) with valuable
items like, your land and house documents which belongs to you has
arrived WASHINGTON DC INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT right now
We hereby write to bring this message to your knowledge to acknowledge
the receipt of my email by reconfirming your address as follows like,
your house address, and your telephone number by sending them to us now
for immediate delivery. For further inquiries please contact the
diplomat at; Tel +1 360 362 7442 (landmarkcouriercompany5@gmail.com)
Best
Regards.
Willie Green
Landmark Courier Company
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Anti-fraud resources:
