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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:
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "atm_swiftoperation@yahoo.com.au" (this email address looks like addresses used in "ATM SWIFT card" 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.
- 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.
- atm_swiftoperation@yahoo.com.au (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Andy Clark" <andy.clark10@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: atm_swiftoperation@yahoo.com.au
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2015 03:31:39 -0600
Subject:
Compliments of the day.
This is to officially inform you that we have sent you several E-mails
without response and we believe that our previous emails did not get to
you therefore we write you again. We are contacting you concerning the
release of your inheritance fund / Draft /Cheque /ATM Card which have been
delayed for transfer by some officials who claim to be in position of your
fund thereby extorting money from you in one way or the other.Your Fund
has finally been approved for transfer by the West Africa Fund Release
and Monitoring Unit. Your fund will be transferred to you via ATM
MasterCard which is cash-able in any ATM machine or Bank anywhere in the
world.
We hereby wish to inform you that the ATM card worth of US$2.5m has been
credited in your favour as the first part payment of your inheritance fund
which has been delayed by these officers who claim to be in position of
your fund.Therefore you are warned to stop any further communication with
anybody concerning your inheritance fund.Your fund will be released via
MasterCard ATM in respect to the rule of law which we represent.You have
to re-confirm the requested information below for security reasons. The
only money you are obliged to pay is the delivery charges only.Contact the
UBA ATM MasterCard verification officer in charge of the delivery:
Contact Name: Mr.Stephen Bruce
Contact E-mail: atm_swiftoperation@yahoo.com.au
Telephone :+2348181912095
Send them the following information of yours for the conclusion of your
payment via ATM MasterCard:
Full Name:__________
Delivery Address:____
Country:_______
Occupation:_____
Phone Number:____
Age:______
sex:______
Best Regards,
Barr.andy.clark.
CONTACT THE PAYMENT OFFICER FOR YOUR ATM
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Anti-fraud resources:
