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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "atm_paycenter201@live.com" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Jim Beal Limit <francapc@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:04:20 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Immediate ATM DEBIT Cash Card Payment Notification:
Immediate ATM DEBIT Cash Card Payment Notification:
ATTENTION BENEFICIARY:
Your Name And Your Contact Details Was Given To The ATM Payment Center In Respect Of Your cheque Which You Have Failed To Claim Because Of Either Non-Compliance Of Official Processes Or Because Of Your Unable to follow due process for the Realization Of Your Payment. We Wish To Bring To You The Solution To This Problem. Your Payment Has Been Arrange Through Swift Card Payment Centers, That Is The Latest Instruction From Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) This Card Center Will Send To You An ATM DEBIT Card Which You Will Use To Withdraw Your Money In Any ATM Machine In Any Part Of The World, And You Must Like To Receive Your Fund In This Way, Please Let Them Know By
Contacting ATM PAYMENT CENTER
Contact person:....George Victor
Bank:..............Oceanic bank International Plc.
Contact E-mail:.. atm_paycenter201@live.com
And Also Send The Following Information As Listed Below:
1. Full Name:
2. Phone And Fax Number:
3. Address Were You Want Them To Send The ATM Card To:
4. Your Age And Current Occupation:
They Have Been Mandated By The ECOWAS Parliament To Issue Out $1.5 Million in your favor which is part payment of your cheque deposited in bank. Also For Your Information, You Have To Stop Any Further Communication With Any Other Person (S) Or Office(S) To Avoid Any Hitches In Receiving Your Payment.
Note That Because Of Impostors, You Have Been Issued A Code Of Conduct, Which Is (ATM-202a) So You Have To Indicate This Code When Contacting The Card Center By Using It As Your Subject. It will cost you only $95 for the processing Coverage Issuing fee.
Dr Jim Bela Limit
international Settlement Dept.
Oceanic bank international plc.
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Anti-fraud resources:
