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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 united states 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: Deb Alice Berg <imfdirector1100@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dabergg211@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2021 11:23:39 +0800
Subject: COME AND GET YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX
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Good Evening
Attn: I wish to inform you that the new government has declared
immediate release of your consignment box in our facility storage room
here in Daniel K. Inouye International Airport You can come and get your
consignment box all compulsory paperwork/documents has been secured by
relevant authorities, you have three days to come and pick up your
consignment cash box valued sixteen million united states dollars and
if you can not come you will take the responsibility for shipping
charge to your home address
The attachments is the scan copies of your ownership documents and
payment receipt you can download for your own perusal
Deborah Berg
Interim Assistant General Manager,
(Operations Maintenance Transportation)
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Anti-fraud resources:
