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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)
- "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)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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: =?UTF-8?Q?Arnauld_Antoine_Akodj=C3=A8no?= <concreatstonecompany.bus@gmail.com>
Reply-To: arnauld.akodjeno2021@diplomats.com
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 2021 21:25:07 -0700
Subject: DEAR VALUED BENEFICIARY
DEAR VALUED BENEFICIARY,
You are welcome to United Nations Oversight Services. We hope you will
exploit and enjoy all the privileges and advantages that put us ahead.
I wish to inform you that we have made arrangement with the United
Nations Delivery Agency to deliver your funds in cash to you and we
want to get your consent before we proceed. Therefore, I wish to know
if you are ready and willing to receive your funds in cash so that the
United Nations accredited diplomat and the officials of the bank who
will clear the funds from the customs and hand over funds to you is
ready to depart. So we need your consent to enable them to proceed as
your funds is already packaged.
We attached herewith copy of your packaged funds valued at
USD$12.5Million Dollars for your perusals and consent to enable them
proceed. As soon as you acknowledge receipt of this mail with your
consent to enable the officials proceed, then your funds will be
registered with the United Nations Diplomatic Agency for cash delivery
so that your Yellow Tag will be issued by the United Nations to enable
the officers proceed immediately. Reconfirm your mail delivery address
so that we will finalize arrangement for the diplomat to leave with
your consignment funds. Upon receipt of your response, we will
forward you with the details information relating to this funds.
Thanks for your urgent response.
Yours Faithfully
Arnauld Antoine Akodjèno
Head of the United Nations Overseight Services
Cotonou, Benin Republic
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