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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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "the 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)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR. Eward Okene" <officeoffice467@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "MR. Eward Okene" <embassyo@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2015 06:55:41 +0900 (JST)
Subject: THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Cotonou Benin Republic.
Greeting From USA Embassy
THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS
Hello My Dear,
This is to notify you that your consignment has been in our custody waiting for your comply before the delivery will be effected to your delivery address. We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your consignment box which TNT EXPRESS suppose to deliver 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 consignment box before it will be released.
After the meeting held by our board of director which was concluded that the delivery of your consignment box to you address must be complete within three working days upon your comply to our requirement which is by sending the sum of $75.00 to enable us obtain the needed certificate and effect with the delivery of your consignment immediately.
Note that your consignment box has been arrived in US embassy here last week Saturday and waiting to receive clearance certificate before the gate pass is given. So Contact us on our e-mail address bellow.
Contact person =Rev Mr.JAMES CARLO
Mean while you are advice to reconfirm the below information upon
Contacting us to avoid delivery to wrong person.
1, your full name
2, your home address
You re Phone
Once you notify us with the above information we will release your consignment to you,
Note that you are expected to pay only 75.00 for clearance certificate and you are to pay it directly to our office in Benin Republic as the origination of your consignment box in favors of (LUKE OBA) as our accountant officer in Benin Republic, Send the $75.00 through western union or Money Gram once you receive this mail with the information below for immediate release of your consignment box,
HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO SEND THE MONEY TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER BELOW: LUKE OBA
Receiver Name=== LUKE OBA
Country====Benin Republic
City======Cotonou
Question====A
Answer======B
Amount====$75
(M.T.C.N)=====
Sender’s name===
Note that any unclaimed consignment will be return to TNT Company after 3 days.
So you are urgently advice to comply with our demand so that we will release your consignment.
Thanks and Remain Bless
MR. Eward Okene
call +229 62192091Â
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