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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:
- "mtcn" (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. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "U.P.S. COMPANY" <thadew25ws4f@att.net>
Reply-To: ups_o@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2010 08:28:46 -0800 (PST)
Subject: YOUR ATM IS SENT TRACKING# H8436030665
Attention.
Regarding your ATM card shipment,please be informed that your ATM card which is worth $1.5million has arrived the United State.Inspite of the fact that we have not heard from you for a short while now due to reasons best known to you,we insisted on sending your ATM card over to you because the Fund has been authorized to you as the rightful bearer whose name is on the International ATM Master card.
Your ATM card which was suppose to be delivered to your home address via FedEx was called back then for security upgrading but right now your International ATM Master card is on delivery to you via UPS delivery services and below is the tracking# of your ATM card package.
www.ups.com
TRACKING# H8436030665
Listen carefully,for security reasons do keep your ATM card and pin# when it is been delivered to you confidential to avoid theift of funds because nobody will be held responsible for that and please ensure you stay close to your home address to receive your ATM card package.We apologize for the inconvenience and delay in your International ATM Master card delivery to you,please bear with us.also note that you have to send the sun of $125 for the Pin Code as soon as you received this mail to enable you withwraw from the Atm card immidiatelt its arrived to you.
Receivers Name.Austine Nwekwu
Country:Benin Republic
City:Cotonu
Text Quiestion: Pin
Answer: Code
Amount:$125
MTCN.
Await to hear from you as soon as possible .
thank you
Mr George Adam.
UPS Delivery.
+22993401522
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