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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. )
- "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. )
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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: "mrs obama.michelle" <WWW.@miracle.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "mrs obama.michelle" <mrs.michelleobama846@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 06:20:30 +0900 (JST)
Subject: GOOD NEWS ABOUT YOUR FUND
GOOD NEWS ABOUT YOUR FUND
How are you today
I am Mrs. Michelle Obama and I am written to inform you about your Bank Cheque
Draft brought by the United Embassy from the government of Benin Republic in
the white house Washington DC which contains the sum of $20.000.000 millions
us
dollars credited from the bank of America, the delivery of your funds has been
mandated to be deliver to your address on Monday being 19th of march 2016 to
you as soon as you get back to me with your home address and your cell phone
number.
Bear in mind that I have taking my time to be in charge of your funds as
instructed by my husband to ensure that you received your funds successfully
from the white house to reduce the economy and I’m the only one that has your
funds in regard to my husband Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama II and you will have to
pay the sum of $100 only before your Bank Cheque Draft will deliver to you on
Friday, the reason why the fee is required is to have your funds clearance
paper from the origin of the funds to avoid any harassment from the authority
and you are also expecting to be announce as winner of the said amount by
Friday as soon as your fund is delivered to you.
So you are urgent advised to get back to me with your home address and also the
payment information today for immediate effect of your delivery. Note that the
$100 is the only fee and final payment you have my assurance.
However, according to our agreement with the originated Benin Republic, all our
communications should be on email for record purpose so follow my instruction
accordingly, even if you don’t have the $100 try to borrow it and send it
immediately because this is your life opportunity and I don’t want you to lose
the chance any more.
Please I will advice you to urgent make the payment this morning via western
union or money gram money transfer to the listed cashier information as
instructed you by the originated authority. I will look forward to received
your email today with the payment to enable the origin secure the required
clearance papers required at White House Benin to deliver your funds. Note that
it will take only 14hrs to deliver your Bank Cheque Draft in receipt of the
$100 payment.
Please find the payment data below to send the $100 via western union or money
gram.
Receiver Name:CHIDI IZUOBA
Country Benin Republic
City Cotonou
Question: Urgent
Answer: Needed
Amount: $100
MTCN reference number............
Sender Name...........
Sender's Telephone……
Sender's Address........
I look forward to your respond to your email with the payment today.
Regards Mrs.Michelle Obama
The White House
Official Residence of the President of the US
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500 USA
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