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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "security keeping fee" (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. )
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "fedex_c_benin@live.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "Barr.Mike David" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <fedex_c_benin@live.fr>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 04:57:37 -0800
Subject: CONTACT FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANY FOR YOUR BANK DRAFT OF $950,000.00
(MIKE DAVID & COUNSELORS AT LAW)
09 BPH 1409 APAPA DODOMEY
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
Dear Friend,
I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your Bank Draft but did not heard from you since that time ,then I went and deposited the Draft with FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANY here in Benin Republic, because I travelled to Paraguay to see my boss and will not come back till next month end. You have to contact the FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANY to know when they will deliver your package .I have paid for the delivering charges and insurance fee.
The only money you have to send to them is there security keeping fee which is $150.00 Us Dollars to received your package .Don't be deceived by any body This is there Contact Address Contact DR.SAMUEL OBINNA, Director FEDEX DELIVERY COMPANY Benin Republic. E-mail;(fedex_c_benin@live.fr) Phone number +229-98950263
Try to contact them as soon as possible to avoid increasing the security keeping fee. I gave them your delivering address but you have to reconfirm it to them as below:
Your Full Name-----------------------
Your Address---------------------------
Home telephone Number---------------------
Cell telephone Number---------------------
Your draft registration number---------EM 0907439
Send this to them to avoid any mistake in the delivering. Let me know as soon as you receive your Draft from the company.
Best Regards
Barr.Mike David
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