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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "dr. sanusi" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "atm_centralbnk1603@yahoo.com.hk" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- atm_centralbnk1603@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "atm centre" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atm_centralbnk1607@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:22:53 -0000
Subject: INRESPECT OF YOUR LONG AWAITING FUND !
Office Of The Governor,
Central Bank Of Nigeria, (c.b.n)
38 Broad Street, Tinubu Square.
Attn: Beneficiary/contractor/award Winner
Your Particulars Was Mentioned In Our Just Concluded Second-quarter Debt Settlement General Meeting. A Part Payment Of $750,000.00 US DOLLARS (seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) Was Approved On Your Name. This Payment Will Be Programmed Into An Automated Teller Machine (atm Card) Powered By Mastercard And Will Be Mailed To Your Address By Courier Service.
You Are Immediately Required To Re-confirm And Forward To My Desk The Following Information's:
1. Your Required Name To Be Printed On Your Atm Card:
2. Your Present Resident Mailing Address (not P.o Box):
3. Your Personal And Reachable Phone Number:
4. Your Occupation/Age
5. Your Driving Licence/Marital status
We Are Sorry For The Inconveniencies The Delay Of Your Payment Might Have Caused You.
Here is my private email for : atm_centralbnk1603@yahoo.com.hk
Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
Governor, Central Bank Of Nigeria (c.b.n)
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Anti-fraud resources:
