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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- diplomatfredlord@citromail.hu (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: tony johnson <tonyjohnson0100@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2021 16:58:25 +0100
Subject: CALL OR TEXT ME URGENT (678) 439_9293
I am Mr Fred Lord, diplomat from speed trust courier company Benin Republic
i have been trying to reach you about an hour now to inform you about
my successful arrived Dallas/ Fort worth international air port Texas with your
consignment boxes worth $9.5million united state dollars from ECOWAS
to delivered to
you,i am right now at air port with all the documents that backs up
the fund and need yellow
tag from custom here to complete my delivery which is $100, please try
and send the money
immediately to enable me get to your address within an hours.
Please try and reach me with my number (678) 439_9293 TEXT OR CALL ME
as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I
have to take care of. Here are the papers backing the funds together
with my ID CARD as I can accompany you to your bank were you will
deposit the fund successfully with these papers. I have all vital
paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I reach
your house as that it's the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to
deliver.
Re-confirm to me your information urgent
Full Name...............
Correct phone number ...........
Delivery Address ..............
Your Nearest International Airport.............
You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get the
Yellow Tag here for you authority. reply on my E-mail
(diplomatfredlord@citromail.hu) GET BACK TO ME WITH PAYMENT
INFORMATION USE WESTERN UNION OFFICE SEND THE $100 NOW OR BUY $100
GOOGLE PLAY CARD SEND ME NOW TO MAKE THIS DELIVERY OF YOUR PACKAGE
FUND OF $9.5M USD TO YOUR DOORSTEP FASTER
Receiver DON JOHN.
Country Benin Republic.
City Cotonou
Country Code 00229
Amount $100 US Dollars
Text Question. when
Answer .today.
SENDER NAME
I ADVISE YOU BUY THE $100 GOOGLE PLAY CARD SEND NOW I AM WAITING FOR
THE PICTURES OF THE $100 GOOGLE PLAY CARD ONCE YOU BUY IT NOW AND
COMPLETE RECEIVE AND ENJOY YOUR PACKAGE FUND OF $9.5M USD TODAY
Regard
DIPLOMAT FRED LORD
E-mail (diplomatfredlord@citromail.hu)
CALL OR TEXT ME URGENT (678) 439_9293
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