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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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)
- "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.
- 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.
- mr.paulgoodluck@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Andrew Segbeya <segbeyaandrew@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: andrew.segbayaoffice@yahoo.co.nz
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 00:06:40 +0200
Subject: Attention:American Express Credit Card
Attention:American Express Credit Card
Good day, after much stress, The Bank decided to redirect your five hundred
thousand United States Dollars to American Express Credit Card Centre Benin
Republic so that they can package the total sum into their
facility called Amex.Credit Card and send to you for us to circumvent
all governmental taxes locally and internationally..
The American Express Credit Card Centre will contact and send to you
your named
Amex. Credit Card containing the five hundred thousand United States Dollars,
they will also send the four digits secret pin code with which you can
be making
withdrawals from the Amex.Card.
This is to let you konw that your approved funds of $500,000.00 United States
Dollars as your inhabitant immediately via American Express Credit Card with
your full details below:
1.Full name:______
2.Home Address:______
3. Telephone:______
4.Occupation:______
From the card you can withdraw maximum of Thirty Thousand United States
Dollars per a day and from the card you can transfer one hundred
thousand United States Dollars to your local account per a day.
YOU SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECIEPT OF THIS MAIL IMMEDIATELY SO THAT WE CAN
DIRECT YOU TO THE AMEX CARD CENTRE BENIN REPUBLIC
Thanks.
Dr.Paul Goodluck
Director Of Amex Credit Card
Email:mr.paulgoodluck@rocketmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
