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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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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.
- 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.
- stevenjames575@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: ATM CARD <"AABBC."@cocoa.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Steven James <stevenjames575@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2016 18:35:41 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GOOD NEWS FOR YOU
Attention beneficiaries
Sequel to our series of meetings for the past 6 months, which just ended with the Directors and Secretary to the United Bank for Africa, representatives respectively in full attendance. The above organizations after prolonged deliberations on series of complaints received from scam victims has unanimously agreed to compensate all scam victim with a clear verifiable proof with the sum of $2.4 usd Two Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollar each from Federal Republic of Benin. Your email was among the list of victims submitted to our office by the United States Fraud investigation Department and final investigation by our secret agents who has been monitoring your correspondence via special tracking device has shown that you are truly a victim.
Right now we have finally succeeded in getting your ATM CARD worth of $2.4 million out for delivery with the help of Adams Mole Attorney General of Federal High Court of Justice BENIN REPUBLIC which act as your foreign Attorney representative here in BENIN REPUBLIC. So every necessary arrangement has been made successfully with the Agent Steven James. the ATM CARD is well updated so you are advice to re-confirm your full delivery information to the Agent right now as he is about to proceed in delievery of your ATM CARD.
So the Information you are Required to Reconfirm to the Agent is as Follow.
(1)Your Full Name=============
(2)Mobile Phone Number======
(3)Current Home Address========
(4)Country====================
(5)City======================
(6)Nearest Airport ==============
Contact the Agent below details as quick as possible.
Name- Steven James
Contact number +22998212429
E-mail (stevenjames575@gmail.com)
contact him so that he will be sure of your information to avoid wrong delievery.
Regards
DAVID BROWN
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