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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. )
- "western union" (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.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- georgevenizelos.office@representative.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dir.James B Comey Jnr" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <georgevenizelos.office@representative.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2016 23:18:01 -0400
Subject: Truth About Your ATM CARD From FBI ...
I Bring to your notice that your ATM CARD is ready and have been issued to you for your onward payment because the FBI in Conjuction with the World Bank and International Monetary Funds have reached an aggreement that MR GEORGE VENIZELOS,the FBI assistant director would be in charge for the release of your PARCEL and make sure ATM CARD get to your door step safely without any delays.
However, we have finalised every arrangement to make sure that the ATM CARD gets to you through DHL under the control of MR JACK STONE so that you can start withdrawing from any ATM MACHINE close to you.Also the ATM CARD is containing the sum of $2.5m which you will be withdrawing a maximum of $10,000 per day until the total funds is withdrawn from the ATM CARD.
Contact Mr.George Venizelos {Our FBI ATM Rep.} at the ATM PAYMENT CENTER and reconfirm your delivery information as stated below and your security code with five digit (FBI15) number has to be submitted alongside with your delivery information for security reasons.
Full Name
Address
Age
Telephone Number
Occupation
In this view you are to contact MR GEORGE VENIZELOS IMMEDIATELY WITH THESE DETAILS,AGENT GEORGE will send you his ID CARD for prove as soon as you reply and send him you INFORMATIONS and forward your details to MR JACK STONE the courier company controller for fast effect.
NAME: AGENT GEORGE VENIZELOS.
EMAIL: georgevenizelos.office@representative.com
Direct 24hours Security Line: +1 918 803 4688 ( Sms Only )
NOTE: Under normal circumstances you are suppose to come and collect your ATM CARD in person and sign some documents as proof of the collection of your ATM CARD but the IMF and the Finance Ministry insisted that you pay for the SECURITY KEEPING FEE ONLY of your ATM CARD via western union money transfer, which will cost you only $220.00 USD to cut down travel expenses in other for the western union payment receipt and the receipt of payment of $220.00 USD to the nominated courier company that will carry out with the delivery to your door step to be documented in your file as proof your collection. We hope that is very clear. A receipt to this effect will be sent to you and a copy kept in your file for future documentation.
REGARDS.
Dir.James B Comey Jnr
NEW FBI DIRECTOR
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Anti-fraud resources:
