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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- 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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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: BARRISTER JONATHAN ANDERSON <iko_goya@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: BARRISTER JONATHAN ANDERSON <ja0288451@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 06:17:56 +0900 (JST)
Subject: PAYMENT APPROVED!
Central Bank of the Benin (CBB)
Office Location: 1-2 Ecowas Avenue
Banjul Benin republic.
PAYMENT APPROVED!
Does it means that you are no more interested of making the claim of your outstanding fund US$5MILLION USD of yours which have successful channel to transfer and reflect into your bank and up till this moment you have decided to remain silent after I have personally took an Oath for you to secure this fund,With all due respect, if you really know that you are no more interested of making this claim of your outstanding fund of yours; kindly update me now to cancel this Transfer since your negative thought does not allow you to believe on the reality so send me a declaration letter stated that you are no more interested of making the claim so that I will cancel the transfer.
What makes you think that you will not secure your fund and have Access of the fund as Beneficiary fund source origin ECOWAS and WORLD BANK wining donation payment, you should know that I have made everything possible for you so kindly go now and send this Fee US$85 so that the Ownership Certificate will obtain to enable the Transfer procurement payment slip submit to your bank authority & your country homeland securities for confirmation of the fund into your bank account. Does it means that you are internationally want to delay this matter and it has been long that I made the announcement of release of your fund which is ready to be with you so with all due respect I advice you to go now and send this Fee immediately without any delay and update me because I want you to secure this fund as a agreed and signed by ECOWAS GOV. and WORLD BANK. Make sure that you scan the Attached Copy of payment slip to me immediately.
You are advice to send the US$85 by Western Union or money gram transfer as directed below and update with the Attached Copies of payment Information for recorded as directed immediately and also get ready and I am at your Service because of your Funds transfer is READY which you know that you have to appreciate the effort that Benin republic new present Government made for you to secure your fund with a copy of Transfer payment Slip to you for Handover. With all due respect, please do not delay to send this fee Today because this is a last chance and final conclusion. Kindly do your best now to send the Fee and update me immediately.
Other details and Transfer procurement payment slip Sheet will be forwarded to your Bank Authority and your homeland securities as soon as you send the Fee US$85 Today and update me with payment information satisfied that you will rejoice right now. On behalf of this Democratic Government of United States of America (U.S.A), I apologize for any delay you might have encountered in receiving your Fund in the past. By virtue of law, you have to go now and make the payment of the required Fee as directed below to enable the Ownership Certificate obtain and issue in your Name of your Funds Transfer to be made immediately because this is the time and moment you supposed to receive your donation funds as the wining Beneficiary. I officially wait for the Attached Copy of Payment Transfer Slip Information Scan for Recorded of your Funds Transfer to be made immediately.
The $85 should be sent via WESTERN UNION TRANSFER OR MONEY GRAM.
Receiver Name:______RICK OZI
COUNTRY:_________ Benin Republic
City Address: ____Cotonou
Test Question;____Good
Test Answer:_____Time
AMOUNT: ________US$85
MTCN_________
Sender Name_____
THANKS,
BARRISTER JONATHAN ANDERSON
PHONE NUMBER:+229-6167-4285
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