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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. )
- "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. )
- "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)
- "million dollars" (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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "REV.PETER GODWIN" <asachan2940@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "REV.PETER GODWIN" <hilo@deliveryman.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 05:40:13 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention Please Urgent Reply,
Attention Please Urgent Reply,
I’m Diplomatic agent Mr.ANTHONY HILO; I have been trying to reach you on your telephone about an hour now just to inform you about my successful arrival in JF KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT NEW YORK CITY with your two boxes of consignment which worth Ten Million Dollars I have been instructed by FEDEX COURIER DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you. The Airport authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to them that the fund is no way related with drug nor fraud money, I have presented the papers I handed to them and they are very much pleased with the papers I presented but the only thing that is still keeping me here is the airport delivery Tag and my American Gate Passing certificate which is not placed on the boxes, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we get the delivery tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery successful .I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag and my American
Gate Passing certificate will cost us just $$125.00 Dollars.
Please try and reach me with my telephone number call me now Diplomatic agent Telephone Number (516-554-8980) as I can not afford to spend more time here due to other delivery I have to take care of in BanK ok. As I can accompany you to your bank were you will deposit the fund Successfully with these papers. I have I more vital paper with me but I can only present you the hard copy when I reach your house as that it’s the diplomatic rules, such as authorization to deliver.
You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get it here for you and they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign countries authority.
AGENT ANTHONY HILO
My Telephone Number Call Me
Diplomatic ANTHONY HILO(516-515-3971)
KINDLY SEND $125.00 TO MY BOSS TO ENABLE HIM OBTAIN THE REQUIRED DELIVERY TAG AND MY AMERICAN GATE PASSING CERTIFICATE AND GET IT FAX TO ME HERE TO ENABLE ME CONNECT MY FINAL FLIGHT FROM HERE IN JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO YOUR DESTINATION, SEND THE $125.00 NOW THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER WITH THE INFORMATION’S BELOW:
Receivers Name: Â ALEX CHIOZIE
Country: Â BENIN REPUBLIC
City: COTONOU
Question: Â IN GOD
Answer: Â WE TRUST
Amount: Â $125.
SENDER NAME.......
MTCN................
Thank
Regard
AGENT ANTHONY HILO
Diplomatic Agent
Telephone Number ( 516-515-3971 )
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