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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "diplomatjohnpaul31@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: DIPLOMAT JOHN PAUL <ubanig252@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diplomatjohnpaul31@outlook.com
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2021 23:13:05 -0800
Subject: RE: IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR ATM CARD($1.2M) KINDLY INDICATE
IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE !
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Hello dear, Compliment of the season to you.
I am Diplomat John Paul, I am mandated to deliver a parcel containing
an ATM CARD{$1.2 M} to you by the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION {W.H.O.}
I want to use the Post office medium to send you your parcel and to
register and post your parcel to your given address, will cost you the
sum of $50, I therefore suggests that you send the $50 us through an
iTunes card or any other Gift card to enable me send you your parcel
through the post office. But if you can send the money through western
union or money gram, you should let me know so that I will give you
the information to pay in.
I also want you to reconfirm your full delivery address to me once
again to avoid wrong delivery.
1. Your Name
2. House/delivery address/country
3. Phone number
4. Age66
5. Any identification
6. Nearest Airport
Kindly do this immediately you receive this message so that I can
proceed to the post office immediately and send your parcel to you as
soon as possible.
I await your urgent response but if you are not interested in
receiving the parcel, please do not reply back.
Yours
Diplomat John Paul.
URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED. Reply to this e-mail(
diplomatjohnpaul31@outlook.com )Call / Whats App (+234-8020-6505-46)
RE: IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR ATM CARD($1.2M) KINDLY INDICATE
IMMEDIATELY YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS VACATION !
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Anti-fraud resources:
