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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- +447024085840 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Secretary General United Nations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <jholmes_unsecretary@live.com>
Date: Thu, 5 May 2011 07:07:39 -0700
Subject: OUTSTANDING LOTTERY PAYMENT NOTIFICATIONþ
UNITED NATION
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENT,
COMMON WEALTH BANK
LONDON
Attention Valued Customer:
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your outstanding contract,Lotto and inheritance file and found out the reason why your payment have not been released to you is because you have not fulfilled the obligation given to you in respect of your lotto,contract/Inheritance payment. Secondly we have been informed that you are still dealing with Ex-Officials in the Bank.All your effort to secure the release of the fund to you have been proven abortive.
We advise that you desist from further communication with them which is at your own risk so we will direct you on the necessary steps to solve this problems which we have resolve your payment through our swift card payment center from COMMON WEALTH bank which is the instruction from our UNITED NATIONS secretary general Mr John Holmes.
Kindly reconfirm below information to the CARD PAYMENT CENTER as SOMEONE has written to us claiming to be your next of kin that you are DEAD and you have directed him with your will & testament to receive your ATM card but we wish to confirm from you if you are dead or alive before we commence with the immediate release of your ATM CARD to him;
1. Full Name:
2. Phone and Fax Number:
3. Current Address:
4. Your age and current occupation:
5. A copy of your identification paper:
The ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER has been mandated to issue out USD$6,600,000.00 as part payment for this fiscal year 2010/2011.
Note that we have assigned a code (ATM 996) of communication to you which you have to indicate this code when contacting the INTERNATIONAL CARD CENTER by using it as your subject to this email (jholmes_unsecretary@live.com)
Have a nice day
Mr John Holmes
Secretary General United Nations
jholmes_unsecretary@live.com
+447024085840
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Anti-fraud resources:
