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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.
- 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.
- directorofremitance@excite.co.uk (Excite, United Kingdom; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "ocokafor@excite.co.uk" <ocokafor@excite.co.uk>
Reply-To: dhldirectoroffice@excite.co.uk
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 16:32:35 +0900 (KST)
Subject: CONTACT REMINTANCE DIRECTOR TODAY 3RD MARCH
THIS IS TO INFORMS YOU ABOUT OUR SUCCESS IN
CODEING YOUR TOTAL AMOUNT INTO AN ATM VISA CARD, AND WE WISHES TO NOTIFIES YOU
THAT YOUR PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER IS NEEDED SO AS TO CREDICT YOUR ACCOUNT INTO
YOUR PHONE ALLERT MASSAGE, THIS WILL HELP YOU TO KNOW WHEN ANY MONEY IS WITHDRAW
OUT OF YOUR ACCOUNT AND WHEN YOU HAVE WITHDRAW THE DAILY MAXIMUM FEE OF
$6,500.00 USD, BE ADVICED THAT ALL YOUR ATM INFORMATION MUST BE KEPT PRIVATELY
FOR SECURITY REASONS.
YOUR CARD PASSWORD
YOUR ALERT
MASSAGE
TAKE NOTE THAT YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR CARD PASSWORD AS
SOON AS YOU RECCIEVES IT. YOU ARE THEREFORE MANDATED TO CONTACT THIS OFFICE
TODAY, SEND YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER IMMEDIATELY AND GET READY TO RECIEVE YOUR
PACKAGED ATM VISA CARD THROUGH COURIER AGENT THIS WEEK. NOW CONTACT ATM
REMITANCE DIRECTOR TODAY AND RECIEVE YOU ATM
IMMEDIATELY.
CONTACT PERSON.....JENKINS
MOORE
EMAIL ADDRESS...directorofremitance@excite.co.uk
SIGNED SEC ORSBURN
OKAFREY
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Anti-fraud resources: