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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:
- "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- 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.
- +447005938136 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "CAL BANK GH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <erika.williams@accountant.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2013 06:36:50 -0800
Subject: Our ref: CAL/52947GH/0193/BOG09 Season 2013
CAL Bank Ghana
Head Swift Transfer Unit
Sir,
This is to bring to your notice that your fund totaling Two Million, One hundred Thousand US dollars($2.1MUSD) with CAL BANK GHANA will be transfer to you from our corresponding Bank in United Kingdom through electronic Telephone Banking System(TBS).
The transfer detail is as follows:
TRANSFER ACCESS NUMBER:+447005938136
TRANSFER PIN CODE:(Sealed in the original slip and will be revealed on request)
AMOUNT:$2.1MUSD
To facilitate the transfer, simply dial the transfer access number +447005938136 shown above from any dial tone phone.Follow the prompt instructions by entering number 2 for fund transfer. Then enter the transfer pin code followed by your bank account number and press the harsh (#)key to enable the fund transfer directly to your account.
Through this system,your fund will be credited to you through swift transfer to your bank account once you dial the transfer pin which I mentioned will be provided on request.The pin serves as a security for the transaction and you shouldn't reveal it to anybody.
Note that the transfer will not be completed without the transfer pin. Also note that apart from security,this system discourages fraud and money laundering.
With best regards
Kojo Williams
+233230930233
Head, telex operations
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Ýòî ñîîáùåíèå ñâîáîäíî îò âèðóñîâ è âðåäîíîñíîãî ÏÎ áëàãîäàðÿ çàùèòå îò âèðóñîâ avast!
http://www.avast.com
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