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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:
- "stamp duty" (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. )
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "MAY BANK MALAYSIA" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmdepertment3@accountant.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 05:42:52 +0800
Subject: Malayan Banking Berhad
Malayan Banking Berhad
20th Floor, Menara Maybank 100, Jalan Tun Perak
Maybank, Contact us at: Tel: 601-6926 -6424.
Good day this is to inform you that your Accredited ATM card (SBG/XX/2182/GH) awarded for over due contract/inhenrittance payment of USD$4.500 Million USD with card number: 4563648263100974 has been allocated in your favor Your Personal Identification Number is 4283. Did you instruct Mrs. Patricia Harrison to collect your ATM CARD worth USD$4.500 million on your behalf.
Get back to this office immediately you receive this message for confirmation and immediate action.
(:I) Did you authorize Mrs. Patricia Harrison to come for your claim?
Malayan Banking Berhad Malaysia will take responsibility for the shipment of your ATM MASTER CARD to your residentail address so you will not have to pay for the shipment. The only fee you will have to pay is the Stamp duty and Affidavit fee which has to be paid by the beneficiary.
This message demand urgent attention, the bank is waiting to hear from you.
Regards,
Mrs. Nora Betty
Welcome to Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank)
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Anti-fraud resources:
