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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:
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "AGENT..OFFICE" <thiagomaria383@gmail.com>
Reply-To: michealedson81@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2022 02:03:47 -0800
Subject: GOOD ..NEWS
ATTENTION DEAR FUND OWNER
I Am Delivery Agent Mr Michael Edwar
This is to inform you about my successful arrival in John Kennedy
International Airport New York City with your cash consignment worth
$19.5million united state dollars Inheritance Compensation fund from
ECOWAS together with the United States,Which I have been instructed by
the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank to be delivered to you.
you are advised to contact me immediately as I can not afford to spend
more time here due to other delivery I have to take care of in
Australia. I want you to know that you have 48hours to get back to
me.However, before the delivery of the consignment to you,We need you
to reconfirm your currently delivery information so that the funds
will not be delivered to the wrong person.
1. Full name:
2. Country/city:
3. Residential address:
4. Direct telephone numbers:
5. Valid identification:
contact =+12103291353
After verification of the information with what I have on file, I
shall contact you so that we can make arrangements on the exact time
I will be bringing your Consignment to your residential address.Send
the requested information so that we can proceed and deliver the
Consignment to you immediately.
Regards: Diploma Mr Micheal R. Edward
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Anti-fraud resources:
