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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- 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.
- us2embassy@netcourrier.com (Netcourrier; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: US Embassy <officefille2009@globomail.com>
Reply-To: us2embassy@netcourrier.com
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:43:18 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: THIS E-MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular
Affairs
Washington , DC
20520
+229-9858-6938
THIS E-MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS
E-MAIL ADDRESS
Greeting From
U.S Embassy
We write to inform you that your fund with reference number
2661428 has been in international intercontinental bank plc Benin republic
facility custody waiting for resolutions of the clearance to further the
remittance We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your funds which
was suppose to remit to you which was on hold by US Department of State Bureau
and requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtain from the
origination of the fund before it will be released.
After the meeting held with the Government of Benin
Republic, it was resolved that the delivery of your fund to you address must be
complete within two (2) working days upon your compliance to our directives;
You are furtgher adviced to send the sum of $55.00 to obtain the needed
clearance certificate from Benin Republic. The clearance charges which was
initially on the high price has been cut down by the US Embassy in Benin
Republic considering the poor economic situations that make it difficult for the
middle class citizens to meet up with the clearance of their entitlement. We
will upon the confirmation of your clearing charge assign our Diplomat Agent
(Prince Jonathan) to collect your ATM card and proceed with the delivery and a
copy of your ATM card is attached for your proper verifications.
Meanwhile you are advice to reconfirm the below information
upon contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong person.
1- Your Full Name
2- Your Delivery Address
3- Your Contact Telephone Number
4- Your Occupation
5- Your Identification (Passport number or ID Card
number)
Once you notify us with the above information we will
release your consignment to you,
You can contact us with the following information,
Contact person: Hon. James knight
Email: (us2embassy@netcourrier.com
)
Note that you are expected to pay only $55.00 for clearance
certificate and you are to pay it to Benin Republic as the origination of the
package in favour of . Emma Oballa as our account officer in Benin Republic
Send the $55.00 through western union once you receive this mail with the
information below for immediate release of your package,
RECIEVERS NAME ..................... EMMA
OBALA
COUNTRY
.................................. REPUBLIC OF BENIN
CITY
........................................... COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION
.................................. WHAT CITY
ANSWER
.......................................... COTONOU
AMOUNT ..................................
55 DOLLARS
Once you send the money, try to notify us with the MTCN for
easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of your ATM card.
Note that any unclaimed consignment will be return
to intercontinental bank in republic of Benin after 3 days.
So you are urgently advised to comply with our directives
so that we will release your money.
Yours Sincerely
Hon.James Knight.
Public Relation Officer United State
Embassy.
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