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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:
- "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "00,000.00" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "ATMCard Maestro Mastercard" <info@atm.com>
Reply-To: www.maestromastercard@gmx.com
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:07:46 +0800
Subject: Congratulations
ATM Maestro MasterCard/Asia
Asia/Pacific Regional Headquarters.
MALAYSIA.
Attention: ATM MasterCard Beneficiary
Your cash bonus of USD $200,000.00 have been RELEASED and APPROVED for onward
delivery to you via our ATM Maestro MasterCard which you will use to withdraw
cash at any ATMs SERVICE MACHINES where you see the MasterCard
OR(MaestroR/CirrusR) sign/logo located in more than 22 million locations
across 210 countriesworldwide.The draw no. 1518 brought out your E-mail
address from a Data Base of Internet Email Users and qualified you with the
stated winning amount.
You are hereby notified that yours falls to our Asian Zone for safety purpose,
for claims, kindly contact our claim agent officer via below email and fill in
the under-listed information's required;
1. Full Names-
2. Delivery Address ( PRESENT HOME ADDRESS NOT P.O. Box )-
3. Nationality / Present Location-
4. Occupation /-
5. Phone Number(s)-
6. Sex-
7. Alternative Email Address-
Contact Person: Mr.Max Aziz.
E-mail: www.maestromastercard@gmx.com
Thanks for your cooperation and congratulations once again.
Yours in Service,
Director Maestro Mastercard.
Asia/Pacific Regional Headquarters.
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Anti-fraud resources:
