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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:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "western union" (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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: Dr Boni Yayi <ecobankplcoffice70@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: hisexcellencydrthomasyayiboni83@yahoo.com.tw
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:31:35 +0100 (BST)
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT His Excellency
P {
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}
UL {
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OL {
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OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF
FEDERAL PEOPLE REPUBLIC OF BENIN
LIBERATION PALACE
COTONOU
REPUBLIC DU BENIN
FROM THE
DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
His Excellency
Dr Boni Yayi
President &
Commander-Of-The-Armies-Forces
Liberation Palace
REF
NO:.........PDSF/OSI/OO2/
DSF2O13
DATE:-...18/04/2013
ATTENTION
I receive email from western union and money gram
today consignal your first payment of $4500.00 and like you saying that you can
send only $69 dollar tomorrow if you can raise the money today because once you
send the money today just give my urgent only 25mins to you to receive your
first payment immediately ok
and my promise to you is that immediately
you send the $69 dollar today that you will start receiving your first payment
immediately ok
HERE ARE THE INFORMATION'S WHERE YOU CAN SEND ANY AMOUNT YOU HAVE AT
HAND
1. RECEIVER ::::::::: EMEKA DESTINY.
COUNTRY:::::::::BENIN
REPUBLIC.
CITY::::::::::::COTONOU.
3. QUESTION::::::::::::::AS SOON
AS?
4. ANSWER::::::::::::POSSIBLE.
5. AMOUNT::::::::::::::::
MTCN:::::::::::::::::::::
SENDER
NAME::::::::::::::::::::::::::
SENDER
ADDRESS:::::::::::::::::::
TEL:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::
AWAITING FOR YOUR URGENT MAIL TODAY.
Remember this Code number which is
meant for your security{W.P.TRUST GOD)
I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY XMASS.
YOURS IN SERVICE
VICE PRESIDENT BARRISTER S.N.OKONKWO..
WESTERN UNION
HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT
REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT
OFFICE
THIS IS OUR CONDUCT CODE
Remember that Winners never STOPPED midways
on their track but went ahead boldly without Fears to the Finishing Line to win
the Crown!!!
HIS EXCELLENCY THE
PRESIDENT,
Dr Boni Yayi
Presiednt & Commander-in-Chief Of The Armies
Forces
Republic Du
Benin
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Anti-fraud resources:
