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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:
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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: "Ibrahim Dankwanbo" <iinfo@inMail24.com>
Reply-To: <accessbkplc.atmcard.dept@info.al>
Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2011 22:30:17 -0700
Subject: ATM Debit Card
Dear Beneficiary,
Instruction was given by the Office of Presidency and United Nations (UN) and (IMF) to transfer fund through ATM Debit Card to you which you can use it in near cash point, shopping mall or banking.
You can withdrawal money from your International ATM Debit Card from any ATM MACHINE location or center of your choice/nearest to you, in any part of the world. Please reconfirm your address and full name and also telephone number for urgent delivery of your original ATM Debit Card to you within 48hrs.
Yours faithfully,
Dr.Ibrahim.h.Dankwanbo,
Accountant General of the Federation
Direct line + 234-8059-344-660
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Anti-fraud resources:
