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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "west africa fund monitoring unit" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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.
- 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.
- atmoceanicb922@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: admin@galaprecision.com
Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2013 07:08:40 +0530
Subject: Hello Beneficiary
Dear Beneficiary,
This is to officially inform you that we have written to you before without
getting respond from you and we believe that our previous mail did not get to
you therefore we write you again. We are contacting you concerning the release
of your inheritance fund / Draft /Cheque /ATM Card which have been delayed for
transfer by some officials who claim to be in position of your fund thereby
extorting money from you in one way or the other.
Your Fund has finally been approved for transfer by the West Africa Fund
Monitoring Unit. Your fund will be transfer to you via MasterCard ATM which is
cashable in any ATM machine or Bank anywhere in the world.
We hereby inform you that the ATM card worth US$1.5, 000.000.00 has been
credited in your favour as the first part payment of your inheritance fund
which has been delayed by these officers who claim to be in position of your
fund.
Therefore you are warned to stop any further communication with anybody
concerning your inheritance fund.
Your fund to be released via MasterCard ATM in act to uphold the rule of law
which we represent.You have to reconfirm the informations below for security
reasons. The only money you are obliged to pay is $95 dollars which is the cost
of the Delivery.
Contact the verification officer incharge of the delivery:
Name: Mr.Nathan Cole.
E-mail: atmoceanicb922@yahoo.fr
TEL: +2348126031069
Send them the following informations of yours for the conclusion of your ATM
Card:
Full Name:__________
Delivery Address:____
Country:_______
Occupation:_____
Phone Number:____
Age:______
sex:______
Regards,
Mr.paul john.
Confidentiality Notice:
Opinions expressed in this e-mail are those of the individual and not that
of GPTL, unless specifically indicated to that effect. GPTL does not
accept any responsibility or liability for it. This e-mail and
attachments (if any) transmitted with it are confidential and/or
privileged and solely for the use of the intended person or entity to
which it is addressed. If you have received this e-mail in error, kindly
delete this e-mail from all computers.
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Anti-fraud resources: