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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:
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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 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.
- +229092718 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- departmentatm18@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev. Dr. Jackson Adam." <office-------80475@att.net>
Reply-To: departmentatm18@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 09:16:53 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Your Atm Card Secret Code (8389 ATM CARD).
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Attention:
,
This is to
acknowledge the receipt of the order from the Federal Ministry Of Finance, in
respect with the provision act of decree 114 of the 1999 constitution; I am
directed to inform you that your payment verification and confirmations is
correct. Therefore,
we are happy to inform you that arrangements have been concluded to effect your
payment as soon as possible and in our bid to
transparency.
It is my
pleasure to inform you that ATM Card
Number;
5000 0049
0204 0003 have been approved
in your favor. Your Personal Identification Number is 1960. The ATM Card Value
is $1.8Million
United State Dollar. You are
advised that a maximum withdrawal value of $5,000.00 USD is
permitted on withdrawal per Day and we are duly Inter Switch and you can make
withdrawal in any Inter Switch location and ATM Center of your
choice.
As stated in
Mr. Robert Email to you the delivery charges is only $92.00. As soon as
payment is confirmed we shall immediately dispatch your package and email you
with the FEDEX tracking numbers so as for you to be able to track your package
online and know when to be at your home to receive it. Please be informed that
the ATM card and the pin would be enclosed in the envelope and you can make
withdrawals from the moment you receive the
package.
You will
have to make the payment of $92.00 available
to this office using Western union money transfer with the name of our
secretary's information's as stated below.
Receiver's
Name: Egwuoba D Ekene
Country:
Benin Republic
City:
Cotonue
Test
Question: Favourite colour
Answer:
Blue
Amount:
$92.00
only.
Mtcn#..........
As
soon as payment is made do send an email with the 10-Digit MTCN numbers so that
we can proceed with dispatching of your package without wasting time. Be rest
assured that your $92.00 is the only payment you will have to make for the
delivery of the ATM card and nothing more.
Looking
forward to hearing from you.
Kindest
Regards,
Thanks as we wait to hear from
you.
Rev.
Dr. Jackson Adam.
Telephone
Numbers: +229-09 27 18
Your Atm
Card Secret Code
(8389 ATM CARD).
Email:
(departmentatm18@yahoo.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
