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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:
- 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.
- metrobannkatmcard@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: atm visa card <pamiethomas@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: metrobannkatmcard@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:21:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ATM VISA CARD
NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENT BY ATM CARD
Attn:Beneficiary,
We hereby officially notifying you about the present arrangement to pay you your over due contract/inheritance fund through(ATM CARD Valued $1.million USD) This arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank and Paris Club, due to fraudulent activities going on within the African Region.
The World Bank and Paris Club introduced this payment arrangement as to enable our contractors/inheritance beneficiary to receive their fund without any interference. the ATM CARD are powered by GOLD CARD WORLD WIDE.Upon the receipt of this mail we are going to load your fund into the ATM CARD and send a scan copy of the card to you before we will proceed to dispatch the card directly to your nominated home addresses so you absolutely have nothing to worry about all we need is your Prompt Response and Co-operation by Gods Grace we will have a successful Transaction.In View of this,you are advised to contact the Director (MBB,IRD,ATM) REV.DR.ERE OMATA for further information with the following contact as soon as you receive this message for further update.
Contact Person: REV.DR.ERE OMATA
Telephone line: +22998128093.
Emails: (metrobannkatmcard@yahoo.com.hk)
Reconfirm the following information to him for Security reason.
FULL NAME:
AGE:
SEX:
COUNTRY:
PHONE:
OCCUPATION/POSITION:
COMPANY:
SCAN COPY OF ID
Mrs.Stella Uzoma
Secretary
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Anti-fraud resources:
