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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:
- "million 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)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "atmcarddept119@officer.com" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" 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.
- 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.
- atmcarddept119@officer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "SABINA WAITE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atmcarddept119@officer.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 20:32:37 -0800
Subject: $2.5MILLION SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER - ATM CARD.
Attn: Beneficiary.
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your Compensation/contract file presently and I found out that you have not received your payment due to your lack of co-operation and not fulfilling the obligations giving to you in respect to your Compensation/contract payment.
We hereby acknowledged the receipt of your ATM card payment instruction from the Central Bank in amount of US$2.5m.= Two Million five hundred thousand US Dollars Payment as the Government of this country has approved it to you.
All the necessary arrangements regarding the delivering of the $2.5 Million Dollars to you has been made with the FEDEX COURIER SERVICES, You are to contact, MR. JOHN MORGAN, now via the below email, with your full delivery information to enable their delivering agent locate you immediately he arrive your country with your ATM CARD.
Company Name: FEDEX COURIER SERVICES.
Contact Person: MR. JOHN MORGAN
Email Address : ( atmcarddept119@officer.com )
Tele Phone Number: +234 8041481027
I want you to be very careful fill the below details as they required for the delivery of your ATM-CARD and send to them for thier immediately action on the ATM-CARD delivery, make sure that you contact them immediately so that your payment will not be revoked and send below details to them for the delivery.
* Title:_____________________________________.
* First Name:________________________________.
* Last Name:_________________________________.
* Street Address:____________________________.
* City:______________________________________.
* State &Country:____________________________.
*Phone: (Area Code) - Number:________________.
*Fax: (Area Code) - Number:__________________.
* Occupation:________________________________.
* Next of kin:_______________________________.
* Id card/ Driving license:__________________.
The new ATM/MasterMoney Debit Card allows you to withdraw cash and check your balance at any bank's ATM machine! This is the kind of convenience you will come to expect from all of Bank's services.
Again you can Pay your bills quickly using Bank ATM Card and it is 24-hour service allows you to make your bill payments easily and quickly anytime of
the day or night and allso pay your Mobile Phone Fees.
Secondly:you are hereby advised to stop dealing with some non-officials in the bank and any other side communication about your fund payment as this is an illegal act and will have to stop if you so wish to receive your ATM CARD from this office.
Please, make sure that you scanned your ID card/Driving license for identiification.
THANKS AND WE PROMISING TO SERVE YOU BETTER..
BEST REGARDS
SABINA WAITE
( PSRB )MANAGMENT.
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