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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
- 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.
- off_boa90@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Henry Uba." <scb_london20@w.cn>
Reply-To: off_boa90@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:06:03 -0400
Subject: ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT BANK OF AFRICA
Good day,
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank
Draft but did not heard from you since that time then I went and
deposited the Draft with bank of africa (BOA) Plc here in Benin
Republic, because I travelled to Pakistan to see my boss and will not
come back till next month end. I have arranged with them to make your
payment to you with their new ATM MASTER CARD which you can use to
withdraw your money in any ATM MACHINE around the globe. You have to
contact the Bank Of Africa Plc with your full contact informations such
as follows.
1.FULL NAME
2.ADDRESS
3 PHONE AND FAX NUMBER
4.YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5.ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION
Kindly contact the below person who is in position to release
your ATM CARD.
DR Sanisu Ibrahim. DIRECTOR,
ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT BANK OF AFRICA
MOBILE : +229 98264736
EMAIL: off_boa90@hotmail.com
I have paid for the processing and delivery charges.The only Money that
your are going to pay to them is only $98 Dollars which they will use
to obtain the Affidevit Of Onwership from the Federal High Court Of Benin
Republic. Try to contact them as soon as possible to quicken the
processing of your card before your draft gets Expired . Let me know as
soon as you receive your Card.
Thanks
Tommy Williams
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Anti-fraud resources:
