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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "clearance certificate" (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 ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
- "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- +22993702430 (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.
- atmdepertmentoffice123@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: jerryfile19@zipmail.com.br
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 23:35:44 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?CONTACT=20ATM=20DEPARTMENT=20NOW=20FOR=20YOUR=20PAYMENT=2E?=
Dearest friend,
Greetings to you & your Family.
Its my pleasure to inform you that i have deposited the bank draft with
registering bank here in Benin Rep being that courier company can not longer
afford to deliver the check to you, with the help of the my boss lawyer,
he advice the apex bank plc cotonou benin republic to make the payment to
you with their new ATM MASTER CARD
I have arranged with them to make your payment to you with their new ATM
MASTER CARD which you can use to withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE
around the world.however, Kindly contact the below person who is in position
to release your ATM PAYMENT CARD and total amount of 1.5million united state
dollars.
REV DR.MR JOHN AGU DIRECTOR,
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT APEX BANK
FAX:+229-937-024-30
EMAIL:(atmdepertmentoffice123@yahoo.fr)
I have paid for the processing charges and Clearance Certificate charges
showing that it is not a Drug Money nor to sponsor Terrorist attack in your
Country. The only Money that your are going to pay to them is only $129.00
USD which they will use to obtain the Affidevit Of Onwership from the Federal
High Court Of Cotonou Benin Republic.
Then,I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it to
them again to avoid any mistake on the delivering and also try to contact
them as soon as possible today to quicken the processing of your card. reconfirm
your details.
(1)HOME ADDRESS:......................
(2) YOUR FULL NAME.................
(3)HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:...............
4)OFFICA ADDRESS................
(5)OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER:.................
Thanks and May God Bless You With Your Family,
DIRECTOR MR JOHN AGU.
Anti-fraud resources:
