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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:
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- 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.
- diplo.michaelburgess@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: michaelburgess <emailoffice024@gmail.com>
Reply-To: diplo.michaelburgess@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2022 07:12:05 -0800
Subject: diplo.michaelburgess@gmail.com
--
Am your Int'l diplomatic agent' Mr Michael Burgess
by name' i wasinstructed by
the United Nations Legal Depth Benin
Republic to handle the delivery of your
consignment box which contained all
your long awaited funds' total sum of ($5.1
million USD)' Right now am currently at
Forth Worth Int'l airport Dallas Texas'
i have been trying to reach you on the
telephone about an hour ago just to
inform you about my successful arrival
in your country but everything came to
no avail so i decided to write you
through email for the reconfirmation of your
current address as listed below to
enable me proceed immediately to
your home address without any further
delay'
City.....................
Current address...........
Nearest airport...........
I.d copy................
Looking forward to read your next email or text message (+1 315 791 0307)
with a good response
(diplo.michaelburgess@gmail.com)
Kind Regards....
Mr Michael Burgess
Your diplomatic agent
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