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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.
- 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.
- +447024056953 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.maestromastercard02@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Attention: ATM MasterCard Beneficiary" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atm.maestromastercard02@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:51:55 -0300
Subject: Attention: ATM MasterCard Beneficiary
Attention: ATM MasterCard Beneficiary
We wish to officially notify you once again of your status via your
Email address as our previous letter to your home address mailbox was
returned undelivered. Your cash bonus of USD$ 420,000.00 (Four Hundred and Twenty
thousand United States Dollar) have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward
delivery to you via our ATM Maestro MasterCard which you will use to withdraw cash
at any ATMs SERVICE MACHINES where you see the MasterCard OR
(Maestro®/Cirrus®) sign/logo located in more than 22 million locations
across 210 countriesworldwide.
This amount of USD$ 420,000.00 (Four Hundred and Twenty thousand United States
Dollar is cash bonus awarded to you from MasterCard Worldwide for your use of the
Automated Teller Machine (ATM) recently. Maximum withdrawal limit per day
is USD$ 10,000 (Ten Thousand United States Dollar) Only.
If we have reached you this time as hopeful, endeavor to get back to us
immediately to enable us commence the immediate delivery of your ATM
MasterCard and ATM PIN NUMBER to your present home address.
***PLEASE NOTE THAT DELIVERY ( NOT P.O. Box ) WILL BE PAID BY YOU FOR THE
COURIER TO DELIVER YOUR ATM MASTER CARD TO YOUR DOOR STEP***
The delivery process of your ATM MasterCard shall be concluded as soon as
you have contacted the Officer in Charge of delivery as stated below:
=========================================================
Contact Person: Mr. Eddie Goodman.
Officer in Charge ( Protocols, Handling and Delivery )
ATM MasterCard
Email: atm.maestromastercard02@gmail.com
Tel: +447024056953
=========================================================
Please provide him with the under-listed information’s below as soon as
possible;
1. Full Names
2. Delivery Address ( PRESENT HOME ADDRESS NOT P.O. Box )
3. Nationality / Present Location
4. Occupation /
5. Phone Number(s)
Thanks for your cooperation and congratulations once again.
Yours in Service,
Mrs. Alexander Smith
Customer Care
ATM Maestro MasterCard
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Anti-fraud resources:
