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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:
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- ikobo.dsc1.available@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- mr. elder steve tel: {+234} 803 321 8420 email: ikobo.dsc1.available@hotmail.com ikobo.dept@hotmail.com please you are to send us your (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "IKOBO PREPAID VISACARD PROMOTION OFFER" <carlos@fcaa.com.br>
Reply-To: ikobo.dept@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 13:34:31 -0200 (BRST)
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?iKobo=A9_Delivery?=
--OUR REF: IKB/NG/M2F01
YOUR REF:
iKobo is a company that specializes in money transfers. With them, you can
send money to any one with your MasterCard or visa. The recipient gets
your transfer put onto a secured Visa debit card which can be used
worldwide at ATM locations for cash withdrawals. This debit card which is
reusable is shipped to the recipient first.
As part of our commitment in bringing our services to the world to the
world, I wish to announce to you that your email emerged as one of the
lucky winners to receive a grant of 4.4 Million US Dollars in the 2011
promotional package. This fund has been made available to you through an
iKobo Visa card and it is now on the way to the post authority in your
country. Upon delivery, you are required to proceed to your nearest post
office to pick the parcel containing the card.
Here is the contact information:
Promotion Manager:
Mr. Elder Steve
Tel: {+234} 803 321 8420
Email: ikobo.dsc1.available@hotmail.com
ikobo.dept@hotmail.com
Please you are to send us your delivery details which would be needed at
the pickup location:
FULL NAME:
DELIVERY ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER
COUNTRY:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS:
SEX:
AGE:
Please note that You are also to immediately refund the delivery charges
of US$140 immediately so as to avoid cancellation of the delivery.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best Regards
Mr. Weil Ronald.
Copyright © 2001-2011 iKobo, Inc.
https://www.ikobo.com
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