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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:
- "activation 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. )
- "dept.atmcard11@yahoo.com.hk" (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.
- dept.atmcard11@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Mariam Benson" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <josephubani@centrum.sk>
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:49:59 +0900
Subject: Good Day!!!
Good Day!!!
I am glad to send you this email to notify you concerning your ATM CARD
which has been in our custody for the past few months.
We want you to understand that the delivery fee is being paid by the
authorities and what you need to do now is to contact us immediately so
that the delivery will commence to your doorstep as soon as possible.
Note that you are to pay for the Activation fee of your ATM
CARD which is only $100 Dollars so that your ATM CARD will be Activated and delivered to
you at your doorstep immediately.
If you know you will not be able to pay for the Activation fee of your ATM
CARD please do not respond back to this email, and your ATM CARD will be
returned back to the compensation head office which you will not be able to get the
ATM CARD again.
Please i repeat myself again that if you know that you will not be able to
pay for the Activation fee of your ATM CARD which is $100 USD please i beg you
not to respond to this email because it will not help you.
Do fill this information and get back to us as soon as You received this
message.Recomfirm your mailing address.
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Full Name:.........
Sex:...................
Mailing Address:..........
Personal Phone Number...........
Occupation:..................
================================================
As soon as you are ready to make the payment of the Activation fee of your
ATM CARD {$100} do let us know by sending us your mailing address, and we are
going to send you the information in which you are going to use in making
the payment for the delivery, once your payment have been comfirmed by our
accountant officer, your ATM CARD will be delivered to you as soon as
possible.
Get back to us immediately for the delivery of your ATM CARD.
E-mail:(dept.atmcard11@yahoo.com.hk)
Call:(+2348057766341)
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Thanks for your understanding.
Sincerly,
Mr Joseph Ubani
The Manager
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Anti-fraud resources:
