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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:
- "swift card payment center" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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: "Plc" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <gomezjonas51@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 May 2015 11:42:14 -0700
Subject: Treat as urgent
Eco Bank PLC Benin Rue Du Gouverneur
Bayol 0!Bp 1280 Cotonou Benin
Republic.
Phone number+229-98243164
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your inheritance
file and found out that why you have not received your Inheritance payment which was
approve by united nation in your name is because you have not fulfilled the obligations
given to you in respect of your inheritance payment.
We Wish To Bring To You The Solution To This Problem. Right Now We Have
Arranged Your Payment Through Our Swift Card Payment Centers, That Is The
Latest Instruction From Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)
I wish to advise you that such an illegal act have to stop if you wish to
receive your payment since we have decided to bring a solution to your
problem.
Did you authorized Mr. Hall Chop to receive your fund in your behalf he
send his Details in China?) To send the atm card to him. If you did not
authorized Mr David Chop to receive your money on your behalf, You are
advise to get back to us very fast with your below information
2. Phone and fax number
3. Address were you want them to send the ATM VISA CARD to (p.o box is not
acceptable)
4. Your age and current occupation
5. Attach copy of your identification
We have been instructed to issue out $10,500,000.00 as part payment for
this fiscal year 2015. 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.Use (00229) so you have to indicate this code
when contacting the card center by using it as your subject.
Note that you are to take care of the Courier Shipment Fee ONLY.
International Settlement Dept
Mr.Jonas Gomez
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Anti-fraud resources:
