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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.
- 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.
- +447011148846 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- musclaimsdesks@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "ATM MasterCard /Asia" <winner@atm.com>
Reply-To: musclaimsdesks@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2012 00:45:21 +0900
Subject: ATM MasterCard Beneficiary
ATM MasterCard /Asia
20 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0NF
Attention: ATM MasterCard Beneficiary
We wish to officially notify you once again of your status via your email
address as our previous letter to your home address mailbox was
returned undelivered. Your cash bonus of $700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand
United States Dollar) have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward delivery
to you via our ATM MasterCard which you will use to withdraw cash at any
ATMs SERVICE MACHINES where you see the MasterCard (or
Maestro®/Cirrus®) sign/logo located in more than 22 million
locations across 210 countries worldwide.
This amount of USD $700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand United States Dollar)
is cash bonus awarded to you from MasterCard Worldwide for your use of the
Automated Teller Machine (ATM) recently. Maximum withdrawal limit per day
is USD$ 5,000 (Five Thousand United States Dollar) Only.
If we have reached you this time as hopeful, endeavor to get back to us
immediately to enable us commence the immediate delivery of your ATM
MasterCard and ATM PIN NUMBER to your present home address.
The delivery process of your ATM MasterCard shall be concluded as soon as
you have contacted the Officer in Charge of delivery as stated below:
====================================================
Contact Person: Mr. Mohammed Mustapha
Officer in Charge ( Protocols, Handling and Delivery )
ATM MasterCard
Asia/Pacific Regional Headquarters
Email: musclaimsdesks@gmail.com
Mobile Number: +447011148846
====================================================
Please provide him with the underlisted informations below as soon as
possible;
1. Full Names
2. Delivery Address ( PRESENT HOME ADDRESS NOT P.O. Box )
3. Nationality / Present Location
4. Occupation
5. Phone Number(s)
6. Choice of delivery/ Online bank wire transfer or Reciever Atm Card at
your door step.
Thanks for your cooperation and congratulations once again.
Yours in Service,
Sevdalina Turmanova
Customer Care
ATM MasterCard /Asia
20 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0NF
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Anti-fraud resources:
