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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:
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- +447035974663 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Inter-American Development Bank(London UK)" <info@iadbk.com>
Reply-To: payment@iadbk.com
Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 18:55:33 -0400
Subject: Ref: ATM CARD PAYMENT APPROVAL.
Inter-American Development Bank
Address: 8 Canada Square
London E14 5HQ
Telephone: Tel. +44-703-5974-663
E-mail: payment@iadbk.com
Ref: ATM CARD PAYMENT APPROVAL.
Kindly Attention .
It is my pleasure to inform you that ATM Card Number5447 5888 8888 8888 has
been approved and upgraded in your favor this morning from your online Banking
account with us. Your Secret PIN Number is 6312. In view of this, you are
permitted to a cash withdrawal of $2000 every day.
We expect you to expedite action and we are duly inters witched and you can
make withdrawal in any location and ATM Center of your choice.
Sir, we have concluded delivery arrangement with nearby FedEx courier Service
Company closed to our office to deliver this ATM swift card to your home address.
In view of this, you are requested to forward to us your address with your
direct cell phone number to enable us register the parcel of the ATM CARD to
Courier Service Company that will deliver the card to you.
Forward to us the above information on this email address for security reason
payment@iadbk.com
Congrats in advance.
Mr. Edward Bartholomew
Chief Finance Officer and Manager of the Finance Department
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Anti-fraud resources:
