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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "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)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "atmpaycentre@yahoo.cn" (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.
- 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: "Mrs.Anita Ezeego" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmpaycentre@yahoo.cn>
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:46:50 -0800
Subject: Attention: Beneficiary,
Dear Beneficiary,
Having review all the obstacles and problems surrounding the transfer of your
(USD$1.500,000.00)One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars and your
inability to meet up with some charges leveled against you due to the past transfer
options, We the Board of Directors's(ECOBANK PLC) has ordered our Foreign Payment
Remittance Unit to issue you a CORPORATE VISA CARD where your payment will be
uploaded and today we got notice that your Payment has been uploaded into CORPORATE
VISA CARD, only waiting you to provide the name and address that will be place on the
card.
MOST IMPORTANT: Please send us your current contact details and delivery address
immediately you get this message.
Your full name:__________________
Your house address:______________
Your house phone:____________
Your cell phone number:______________
Email those information to Mr John Akuma with this email address as stated below.
Contact Person: MR JOHN AKUMA
E-MAIL: atmpaycentre@yahoo.cn
TEL: +229 68 221 130
Thanks
Mrs.Anita Ezeego
Secretary
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Anti-fraud resources:
