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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:
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "atmcard@darkmark.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" scams)
- "atmcard@darkmark.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "PAYMENT ATM CARD" <p734@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: atmcard@darkmark.com
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:59:54 +0200
Subject: Re: Please Confirm Details
Attention: Dear Beneficiary,
Your approve fund of NEXT OF KIN has been credited through ATM CARD with
your fund of US$5,000,000.00 (Five Million United State Dollars) Please we
are sorry for the delay in contacting you all this while; the ATM CARD is
ready for use in your name.
The bank is waiting for the reconfirmation of your delivery details as
listed bellow for the Delivery of your ATM CARD to you at your doorstep, and
it will interest you to know that it will take the bank three days only to
deliver the ATM CARD to you as you desire, Upon reconfirmation of your
delivery details as listed bellow.
Full Name:__________
Delivery Address:____
Country:_______
Occupation:_____
Phone Number:____
Age:______
Sex:______
Identification ID Passport: ____
You are to revert to this email notice immediately to enhance speed delivery
of your ATM CARD to you at your doorstep. Please send all information
through my private email: (atmcard@darkmark.com)
I am waiting to hear from you
Yours Truly,
Mr. Dennis Dike (cashier)
African Development Bank Group (AFDB)
No 12 Tinubu Square Lagos-Nigeria
E-mail: atmcard@darkmark.com
Direct Call: +2348185744736
www.afdb.org
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Anti-fraud resources:
