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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:
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "processing fee" (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. )
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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: "JOHN CODY" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <john.cody12@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:12:50 +0100
Subject: Re: Issuance of Compensation By ATM Card Payment 199
External Review Committee on Debt And Inheritance Payment
ADBank Group
Attention Beneficiary:
Re: Issuance of Your Inheritance ATM Card
We wish to inform you that you have been scheduled to be paid 10,500.000.00 (10.5M) through our Automated Teller Machine Card (ATM Card) which will only require you to proceed to any ATM Cash Point in your city to withdraw the maximum per day till the payment is completed.
We use courier Service Company for all our international shipments, and to enable this take place you are required to pay the sum of 185 Processing fee. After which the Original Card copy will be delivered to your home address through DHL., we only help to receive these funds on their behalf and will immediately authorize the courier company to ship your ATM card once payments are confirmed.
We are sorry as we cannot deduct from your funds to pay for the Processing Fee. This is in accordance with section 13(1-2) of the new payment policy Act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3rd July 2004 by the external review committee on debt. This is to protect our clients and to avoid misappropriation of funds by officials.
Furthermore you are advised to contact me ASAP for the issuance of your ATM card When you contact me, kindly provide the below information:
1. Full Name (As Stated in your ID)
2. Contact Address (Where your ATM card will be shipped to)
3. Valid telephone number
This information will be used to process your card before it's issued out to you. I will like to know if you still want me to proceed. I humbly await your instructions.
Mr. John Cody
ATM Issuing Department
ADFB
Telephone +2347059854881
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