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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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "million dollars" (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)
- ",000,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- +447011147922 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- w.neil53@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Visa card payment notification" <info@visacard.net>
Reply-To: coirtore@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 05:53:41 +0800
Subject: Re:Visa card payment notification
Visa card payment notification
Office of the director of operation
International credit settlement,
Finance Element Fx Bank Of London
Attention: Dear ClientVisa card payment notification
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract Inheritance file and found out that why you have not received your payment because you have not fulfilled the obligations given to you in respect of your Contract inheritance payment.
We have decided to bring a solution to your problem. Right now we have arranged your payment through our swift card payment center Asia pacific or through online banking system of transfer through our affiliate bank in London. that is the latest instruction from the Prime Minister of England Mr David Cameron through the Metropolitan Police approval in conjunction with the Interpol and FBI.
The Visa card payment center has been mandated to issue you $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Dollars Only) or through our affiliate bank in UK as your by online system of transfer as your part payment for this fiscal year 2012.also for your Information you have to stop any further communication with any other Person (s) or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment.
You are to fill out the below information for us to prepare your Visa Card or Bank transfer slip and get it ready for you to receive through a reputable courier company or we direct you to our affiliate Bank in Uk for online system of transfer based on your best option of payment.
Your name:........................
Phone:.............................
Address:..........................
City/:........................
State:.........................
Country:.......................
Phone Number|:............................
Zip-Code:.................................
Your age:..................................
current occupation.............................
Attach copy of your identification
Please contact this very office below for more instruction and directive on how to receive your Visa Card or by bank Transfer through our affiliate Bank in the Uk.
Mr Williams Neil
Director, Visa Payment Department
Email:w.neil53@yahoo.com
Telephone:+447011147922
Email me back as soon as you receive this important message for further direction.
We hereby issued you our code of conduct, which is (ATM-Y2k12) so you have to indicate this code when contacting the Visa Center by using it as your subject.
Regards
Mr. Coir Amberlin
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