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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:
- 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.
- iea1@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "ATM PAYMENT" <tjennings@centurytel.net>
Reply-To: smithwilliams000@superposta.com
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 10:28:47 -0700
Subject: ***SPAM***YOUR ATM PAYMENT IS READY
Our Ref: FGN /SNT/ICB-14 DEAR BENEFICIARY: THIS IS TO OFFICIA=
LLY INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED YOUR INHERITANCE FILE AND IN RESPECT O=
F YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENTS $7.1M USD. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE =
ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT THROUGH OUR SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER THAT IS THE LAT=
EST INSTRUCTION FROM MR.PRESIDENT,DR GOODLUCK EBLE JONATHAN (GCFR) FEDERAL =
REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. THIS CARD CENTER WILL SEND YOU AN ATM CARD W=
HICH YOU WILL USE TO WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY PART OF =
THE WORLD, BUT THE MAXIMUM IS 2500 USD PER DAY, SO IF YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE Y=
OUR FUND THIS WAY PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CONTACTING THE INTERNATIONAL REMITT=
ANCE DEPARTMENT CARD PAYMENT CENTER WITH HIS DETAILS BELOW: SEND =
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: 1. YOUR FULL NAME: 2. ADDRESS WHERE T=
O SEND THE ATM CARD: 3. PHONE: 4. YOUR AGE : OCCUPATION: Contac=
t payment house release person. Contact Person: Mr. JIMMY. WHITE, jimmyw=
iea1@aol.com Best Regards, WILLIAMS SMITH ATM COMMITTEE CH=
AIRMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA =20
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Anti-fraud resources:
