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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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "westernunion_benin@mail.bg" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "westernunion_benin@mail.bg" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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: "Bank Of Africa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunion_benin@mail.bg>
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2015 16:55:45 -0700
Subject: Esteemed Customer, Your Urgent Attention Is Needed.
Bank Of Africa
Avenue Jean Paul ll- Cotonou Benin Republic
Direct line: +22998376953
Fax:+229-9311784:
Email: westernunion_benin@mail.bg
Western Union office®Payments
Attention Beneficiary,
This to inform you That Africa union (AU) has started releasing scam
victims compensation fund mandated by United Nation Organization and
African Union ( AU ) through our office. The Board of Directors, Bank
Of Africa(BOA) has ordered it's Foreign Payment Remittance Unit to
commence on your transfer.
I am contacting you because our agent has sent you the first payment
of $5,000 for your compensation funds total amount of $500. 000 (Five
hundred thousand united state dollar) We needed your urgent response
so that your payment information can be release to you.
You can call our office hot line for urgent attention ( +22998376953
Benin Republic)
Our pleasure to be of your service.
Sincerely,
Dr. Frank L. Joseph
Director Western Union Money
Bank Of Africa
Cotonou Benin Republic
E-mail: westernunion_benin@mail.bg
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This message and any attachment are confidential and may be privileged
or Otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended
Recipient, please telephone or email the sender and delete this
message and any attachment from your system.
If you are not the intended Recipient you must not copy this message
or attachment or disclose the Contents to any other person. Please
consider the environmental impact before printing this document and
its attachment(s). Print black and white and double-sided where
possible. Registered © 2011 - 2015 Bank of Africa Group All Right
Reserved -----
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