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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:
- "million pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "STANDARD CHARTERED BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <standard.chartered_bank.uk@email.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:24:42 -0800
Subject: ATM CARD REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
Standard Chartered Bank,Internatonal.headquarter.
{1 Basinghall Avenue, London.EC2V 5DD}
ATM CARD REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
{REG NO SCB C74741B}
{TEL/0044/7031883799}
>From Desk of Director Dr.Scott Edwadrs
Standard Chartered Bank ATM Dispatch
{OUR REF<2C3<CB}London
Attention:Beneficiary
the Insurance coverage fee have been paid By UNITED NATIONS the only money remain to pay is
for shipment cost <450> pounds,because the management of Standard
Chartered Bank told me to reconfirm to you finally that all the necessary
arrangement to release your ATM CARD of 4.8 Million pounds, with Standard
Chartered Bank.
I here by urgently confirm to you that the Atm Card is ready.card
reference number:<7103/9527/0413/9070>PIN CODE payment no <4097>
Allocation card No.<604> ownership payment right No. <0494> account number
<scB745008901546/QB/91/A>.
You re hereby advice to send the required details Enable for us to
Reconfirm your information to the ATM CARD shipping Department this
information below:
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Anti-fraud resources:
