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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. )
- "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. )
- "high court" (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.
- 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: MR DAVID JIM <austin_eze07@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: benincourt@live.com
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:34:21 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: CONTACT BENIN HIGH COURT
ATTIENTION
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Am very sorry to let you know that your fund is in Benin High Court Due to your delay we have deposited your fund of$1.2 million into Benin High Court Account yesterday morning because we find out you so much find it difficult to rise the fee which western union and money gram ask you to pay due to high amount of money .
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now we call a meeting this morning to let you know that your fund is no longer in western union and money gram office because you have wasted so much money still yet you do not received any thing .
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we now decided to release your fund through our office to avoid spending more money or wasting of money from western union and money gram office .
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the reason why I say this is because all the necessary arraignment has being made like your payment file and your fund release Order Certificate is already Obtain the only thing we need from you is signing fee of your certificate which is $75.00 to enable Barr Godwin Uba sign your certificate and start sending your fund .
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remember we can not do anything without this fee and again you have just only two working days to send the fee to avoid losing your fund which I don’t want it to happen to you .
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because this is the only opportunity you have to get what be long to you which God Almighty have decided to remember you and I don’t want you to reject the blessing of God .because the federal Government of Benin Republic and Mr President of this county have Approved your payment .
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and that shows your are real owner of this fund and no man in this world can stop it because the order is from above.Please Contact us with this email ( benincourt@live.com )
now we want you to forward us your full details such as your full Name and your home adders and your Bank Details to avoid mistake
here is the payment information which you will use to send the needed fee of $70.00
Tel ph Number +229-98-93-47-67
Receiver's name_____ MRÂ John ollo
Country______Benin Republic.
City_______Cotonou
Text Question______how
Answer______long
Amount______$70.00
As we are waiting to hear from you receive this email with the payment infromation to enable you start receiving your fund with any more delaying ok
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Thanks, MRÂ DAVID JIM
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