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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "stamp duty" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million us 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)
- "we will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Michael S. Numa" <atmcard697@yahoo.com.au>
Reply-To: "Michael S. Numa" <uba.benin@thebright.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 17:31:27 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA) COTONOU BENIN
REPUBLIC HEAD OFFICE, E-MAIL uba.benin@thebright.com)
 ATM PAYMENT DEPARTMENT UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA) COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC HEAD OFFICE, E-MAIL uba.benin@thebright.com)
URGENT REPLY NEEDED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT:
We have been waiting for you to contact us for your Conformable Bank Draft of $3.5M United States Dollars, but We did not hear from you,
Accredited ATM card (UBA/HS/02482/BG) awarded for contract payment of $3.5Million US Dollars with card number: 3478763199030014 has been allocated in your favor Your Personal Identification Number is 2482. Did you instruct Mr. James Brown to collect your ATM CARD worth $3.5million on your behalf? Get back to this office immediately you receive this message for confirmation and immediate action,
We will advice you to confirm the below information immediately and make sure that you fill in the information correctly and contact the ATM PAYMENT CENTER with the below information.
COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW:
Did you instruct Mr. James Brown to collect your ATM CARD?:….(Yes/No)
*Your Full Names:……….
*Residential Address: …………
*City:……………..
*State:……………
*Country:……………
*Zip Code:………….
*Direct Phone Number#:……….
*Office Number#:……………..
*Age:………
*Sex:………
*Occupation:……………
*Next of Kin:……………
*Relationship with next of Kin:……….
Note that the shipment of your ATM CARD will be taken care of by the UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA, so you will not have to pay for the shipment. The only money you will have to pay is $250.00USD for the Stamp duty and endorsement for the Authorization. Upon your reply and confirmation of your details your will be advice on further proceedings.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Mr. Michael S. Numa
ATM PAYMENT CENTER
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA BENIN REPUBLIC HEAD OFFICE Telephone:+229-9980-7025
E-MAIL ADDRESS: uba.benin@thebright.com)
N/B: MAKE SURE YOU COMPLETE THE FORM WITH YOUR CORRECT INFORMATION. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC (UBA) WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISDELIVERY AND MISPLACEMENT THANK YOU.
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