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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:
- "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. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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: "MONEY GRAM " <morimori_shibue.@soleil.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "MONEY GRAM " <money.gram32@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 04:28:46 +0900 (JST)
Subject: ATTENTION PLEASE
Dear Fund Owner
I am Mr. BEN JOHNSON, the director of Money Gram International Benin Republic.
I write to inform you that the mail you sent to me has been received regards to your deposited check valued ($4.8MUSD)which was deposited through money gram department after there finally meeting regarding your fund in Benin Republic.West Africa.
The reason your fund was deposited at this Money Gram International Benin Republic is because of new policy of Benin Republic federal government. so i want you to confirm you information to me now to enable us send you first payment of $8000 as it is a daily payment $8,000usd per day.so all you need to do now is to follow my instruction and receive you fund.
Below is the information we need from you to enable us confirm that your the rightful beneficiary of the large Amount of fund and also our good customer.
Your Full Name....
Your country.....
Home Address.....
State....
Mobile Phone.....
Occupation....
Your monthly Income.....
Age...
Sex....
As soon as we receive this information,we will proceed towards this transfer by directing you on how you will pick up your payment.thanks for your cooperation.
So try to reply this mail to enable us know that you receive it.
Regards.
Mr. BEN JOHNSON.
DIRECTOR OF MONEY GRAM INTERNATIONAL BENIN REP.
Here is My Working Phone No +229 99365360 CALL Me
am looking foreword to hear from you
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