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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- revrubenwillson@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Ruben Jim <godwichukwu17@gmail.com>
Reply-To: revrubenwillson@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2023 10:56:55 +0100
Subject: Your ATM card
Attn: Dear
This is to inform you that your outstanding Inheritance fund valued at
$8.900,000, 00. (Eight Million nine Hundred Thousand USA Dollars) Have
been approved for immediate payment by the Director Telex/Foreign
Operation Through ATM CARD Payment system which you will make a
withdrawal of your fund in any ATM machine in your Country.
Now, you are advice to contact the UBA Bank of Benin with the
following information stated below, Contact immediate for your ATM
card payment will be delivered to you.
UBA Bank ATM Payment Department.
Contact Person: Rev Ruben Wilson
Email: revrubenwillson@gmail.com
Contact with your below information to proceed by delivering your ATM
card through your postal address.
Your full name..................
Your home address.................
Your telephone number............
Your cope identification..........
Your Country.................
Regards,
Ruben Jim.
Director Telex/Foreign Operation. UBA
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Anti-fraud resources: