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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "worldfinancialbnak_2@globomail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: Dr CHRISS MARK <officefile---8474@att.net>
Reply-To: worldfinancialbnak_2@globomail.com
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:15:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT YOUR ATM MASTER CARD
My Dear Friend,
I have been waiting for you to come down and pick your Bank Draft but did not hear from you so I went and deposited your ($3.5m) with first Bank Cotonou Benin Republic I have arranged with the first bank to make payment to you with their new ATM MASTER CARD for withdrawal of your total FUNDS, You can withdraw cash in any ATM MACHINE around you.Contact first Bank Cotonou Benin republic with full contact informations such as .
1 FULL NAME==============2 ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND========THE ATM MASTER CARD===============3 CURRENT PHONE NUMBER=============4 YOUR AGE AND OCCUPATION==========
Kindly contact the person in position to release your ATM CARD name DR.Willims John DIRECTOR ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT first BANK Cotonou Benin Republic E-mail (worldfinancialbnak_2@globomail.com)Tel:+229-98944611. We cleared processing and delivery charges.The only Money that your are going to pay to them is $280 Dollars safe keeping fee.Try to contact them soonest to quicken receive of your card.NOTE THAT BECAUSE OF
IMPOSTORS,
WE HEREBY ISSUED
YOU the CODE OF CONDUCT, WHICH IS (ATM-9332) SO make
sure you INDICATE THIS CODE WHEN CONTACTING THE ATM
CARD CENTER BY USING IT AS YOUR SUBJECT.
Regards,
Dr CHRISS MARK
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