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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:
- "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. )
- "deadline" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "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.
- 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.
- 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: Sky Bank online transfer <ofile0099@gmail.com>
Reply-To: skybankrepublicbenin@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:31:44 +0530 (IST)
Subject: FINAL DEADLINE CANCELLATION OF YOUR PAYMENT!!!
  FINAL DEADLINE CANCELLATION OF YOUR PAYMENT!!! ===============================================================    We couldn't hear from you regarding your online transfer of your FUND valued at the toned of USD$4.5M,
   Be informed that Federal Government of Benin spent so much money for the documents concerned without asking you to contribute a dime and I see no reason why 150$ INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE CODE of your None resident account should be an hindrance for you not to get your FUND transfer to you at your home state account , as scheduled?    The fact is that, I cannot directly come out openly to assist you with the 150$ because of my position and job as an Executive Director and Fund Foreign Verification and Inspection Commission Unit of Sky Bank of Benin Republic that I am under-strict monitor on how I spent money and wouldn't want the officials of the Sky Bank of Benin Republic to begin to think that I have a personal interest in your fund and also may not want to do anything that will destroy my family name that was build over the years in jeopardy.  You should know that the Federal Government of Benin in conjunction with United
Nations and AMERICA FBI has given a mandates that the entire unclaimed beneficiaries payments should be recalled and the payment cancel to be used for the less privileged children in Africa and Asia.   If you are still willing to get your FUND transfer to your account thus contact the Sky Bank Plc official web site http://www.sbbplc.cu.cc/p_onlinebanking.phpÂ
Â
 your None Resident account number .......(776428651)  Password ( john )
Note that you have to do the transfer and see the reason why you need to send the 150$ and the final deadline is Friday being 4/09/2011 and if we don’t hear from you before the close of work today thus your payment FUND will be recalled and your payment cancel. We shall be waiting to hear from you on this effect.Below is the information on how you will be sending the needed amount through Western Union Receiver Name .... Obeche Ikechukwu
Country ........... Benin Republic
City................ Cotonou
Test Question ...... Very
Test Answer ..... Urgent
Amount .............150$Â Â Â Yours Sincerely.
Mr. Fred Williams
Call me now with this Number :+229 98954729
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