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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- 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.
- uninbang01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms. Ruth Eze" <albertmorris2003@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: dr_uchewilliams@maktoob.com
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2010 07:02:45 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: We wish to inform you that your overdue payment has be scheduled
Dear Friend
We wish to inform you that your overdue payment has be scheduled to pay to you through certified ATM Card which you will be only required to proceed to any ATM Cash Point to withdraw $4,000 per day till your complete payment fund of $10 Million USD are completed.
This development was as result of new payment policy revolution of 2010 carry out by the World Financial Body in collaboration with World Bank Audit unit and Policy maker unit under world bank new year payment constitution.
This effort is to help the international monetary fund restrict and monitor every international transaction to avoid money laundering activities and will help us to fight against fraudulent activities from scam experts.
Furthermore you are advice to reconfirm you billing address include your full name and direct contact telephone number to the Bank, for the issuance certified ATM Credit Card, The contact information is as follows:
UNION BANK PLC.
CONTACT PERSON: Rolland Pascal.
Email : uninbang01@gmail.com
TELE/FAX +2348021325194
NB: that you can only withdraw just $4,000.00 per day till your fund is completed. Please do not reply to this E-mail contact UNION BANK ATM Certain immediately with the necessary information required from you so that they commence on proceeding. Remember you have to pay them $135 which is the Bank service charge. And you can send the payment to them to the below information so that they can have your ATM CARD delivery to you.
Here is the information for sending the $135 via Western Union .
Receiver Name/////// Jude Okechukwu
Address //////////// Abia State-Nigeria
Text Question //// What Color?
Answer ////////// Red
THEN AFTER YOU SEND THIS PAYMENT YOU CAN FORWARD THE PAYMENT TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS GIVEN TO YOU WITH YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS FOR EASY DELIVERY TO YOU OK.
Regards
Ms. Ruth Eze
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Anti-fraud resources:
