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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:
- "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.
- 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.
- unitedbank56@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "HSBC Bank Benin." <operation_department@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: unitedbank56@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 16:56:37 -0500
Subject: Contact United Bank TEXAS today.
Attention our dear customer:
We are happy to inform you that your US$1.2 Million has been transfered into
our Texas bank for onward remittance into your bank account today. We did not
transfer the funds direct into your bank account due to the President Obama's
new method of financial obligations. He gave an instruction that any funds
above $50,000.00 will be transfered to Dallas Texas, USA for investigation
before the final remittance into the beneficiary's account.
The Texas bank is the only bank that has been given authority to handle any
transaction from over seas to the States. We heard that you have spent some
money in order to receive your funds which results nothing in return. Now, You
will receive your funds as soon as you contact Texas bank today. Email the
bank as soon as you receive this email.
I hereby direct you to contact the Texas bank through this information below:
UNITED BANK PLC.
DALLAS - TEXAS, U.S.A.
E-mail: unitedbank56@yahoo.com.hk
They will complete the remittance of the funds into your Bank account today
once they hear from you. Call our bank at phone line: +229-986-45-777 for
confirmations.
Congratulations once again. Thank you for banking with us.
Yours in service,
Richard Westerfield
HSBC BANK CO-OPERATION.
COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC.
Tel: +229-986-45-777
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