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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:
- "registration fee" (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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "abuja" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: WELLS FARGO BANK <wbank5026@gmail.com>
Reply-To: toddjbrown0@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2022 04:25:46 -0700
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION
U.S AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
PLOT 1075 DIPLOMATIC DRIVE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AREA, ABUJA
ATTN: BENEFICIARY.
AN OFFICIAL MEETING WAS HELD WITH THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA AND
MINISTER OF FINANCE CONCERNING THE UNPAID AND UNCLAIMED FUNDS TO
FOREIGN BENEFICIARIES,I WAS VERY MUCH CONCERNED WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT
YOU HAVE PAID SO MUCH MONEY AND YET HAVE NOT RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS.THIS
IS WHY I DECIDED TO HELP.
I WILL BE COMING TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR AN OFFICIAL VISIT AND I WILL COME
ALONG WITH YOUR CONSIGNMENT BOX CONTAINING SUM OF $5.9 MILLION ALONG
WITH ME THROUGH UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO THE COUNTRY. BUT I
WILL NOT GO THROUGH CUSTOMS BECAUSE AS U.S AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA, I AM
U.S GOVERNMENT AGENT AND HAVE THE VETO POWER TO PASS THROUGH CUSTOMS.
JUST LIKE I HELPED TWO PERSONS THAT RECEIVED THEIR FUNDS THIS LAST
YEAR 2021 THROUGH FEDEX COURIER SERVICE.
PLEASE SEND YOUR INFORMATION AS REQUESTED BELOW:-
1. YOUR FULL NAME
2. CELL PHONE NUMBER
3. OCCUPATION
4. ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT ME TO BRING THE PACKAGE.
YOU REALLY PAID MUCH IN REGARDS OF THE DELIVERY AND THAT SURPRISED ME.
YOU ARE VERY LUCKY AS I SHALL BE BRINGING IT MYSELF AND NOTHING CAN
STOP ME, ALSO BE INFORMED THAT THE ONLY FEE THAT YOU WILL BE PAYING IN
THIS TRANSACTION IS THE REGISTRATION FEE OF $150 FOR YOUR BOX OF
CONSIGNMENT TO BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE.
NOTE THAT ONCE THIS PACKAGE IS REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL PACKAGE
ITS WILL BE DELIVERED SAFELY TO YOUR DOORSTEP AS NO CUSTOMS OR
IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS CAN EVER STOP THE PACKAGE ON THE PROCESS OF ME
BRINGNG IT TO YOUR DESTINATION.
ACCESS MY WEBSITE AND READ BIOGRAPHY:
http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/biography.html
CONTACT DETAILS BELOW
NAME: AMBASSADOR W. STUART SYMINGTON
PHONE NUMBER: { (302) 844-8429 or(234)9066249032}
TRULY,
AMBASSADOR W. STUART SYMINGTON.
U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA.
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Anti-fraud resources:
