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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:
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "courier company" (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 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.
- james_blunt@ig.com.br (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MRS. LINDA M. JOHANSSON." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <james_blunt@ig.com.br>
Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 02:24:40 -0700
Subject: URGENT:FEDEX IS WAITING FOR YOU TO DELIVER YOUR ATM CARD.
Good day to you.
You have an ATM MasterCard worth $650,000 USD
which awaits outstanding payment of $178 USD
(SECURITY KEEPING FEE) for your package to be
released and delivered to you by FEDEX COURIER COMPANY.
CONTACT THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE DELIVERY OF YOUR ATM WITH THIS INFO :-
Contact Person: MR. JAMES EVANS SMITH
Private Email: james_blunt@ig.com.br
FILL THE FORM BELOW :-
Your Full Names:
Your Delivery Address:
Your Phone Number:
Your Country:
YOUR MASTERCARD ATM DETAILS:-
ATM Card Number: (5278763100030014)
Security Pin Code: 6689
ATM Card value is: $650,000 USD
Withdrawal per day: $5,000 US DOLLARS
Personal Identification: 822
Expiration Date: 4-02-2014
Best Regards,
MRS. LINDA M. JOHANSSON.
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Anti-fraud resources:
