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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:
- "atm card department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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_8872_card@sify.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "atm8872card@24.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- 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_8872_card@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Jude Mark" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atm_8872_card@sify.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:02:19 +0100
Subject: THIS YOUR ATM CARD CONTACT DR MIKE FRANK VERY URGENT
Anttention Beneficiarey,
I have contacted Union Trust Bank to confirm if you have received the inherited funds Bank draft of (US$6.800.000.00) which
issued by your name, but they told me that they could not send it to you because they did not hear from you since and they don't know your address where they can send it to you through courier service company. Now I have called bank to cancel any
payment regards to the draft cheque and then authorized them to transfer the payment into ATM CARD in your name which they
did.As of now be informed that all charges have been paid.
the ATM CARD is in your name all you have to do is to confirm yourcurrent information as requested below to the bank only,then your atm card will send to you immediately you confirm the information to this ATM CARD department Here are the
information you have to forward to the ATM CARD department : 1. YOUR FULL NAMES--2. Postal ADDRESS-----3. PHONE NUMBER-----4.
CELL numbers--5__.SEX---6. AGE---7.OCCUPATION----- 8. NATIONALITY-- CONTACT PERSON: DR.MIKE FRANK. Director, TM Foreign
Operation Dept. Union Trust Bank PLC Cotonou, Benin Republic. Contact Email :(atm_8872_card@sify.com) atm8872card@24.com Telephone number +229-931-322-23 Get
back to me once you received this mail ok.
MR Samuel Okeke
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