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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- info_economy@financier.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. Mohamed Ahmed" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ministryofeconomyandfinance2015@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2017 22:59:24 -0800
Subject: From The Ministry of Economy and Finance
Ministry of Economy and Finance
Rue 9071 Apt 2B Agata Cotonou,
Republic Of Benin
Dear: Beneficiary,
I am the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Benin Republic. With reference to my effort to reach you via telephone call, I delighted to inform you that I am the last signatory to your UNRESOLVED fund. This fund supposes to be in your position long ago but you did not follow the normal process by obtaining the TC1 FORM from this office.
Consequently with out the presidential endorsement from the new president of this country Dr. Patrice Talon no body will release your fund to you, that is the problem you have been having with all the people you are following.
Your payment file has been APPROVED authoritatively and the comment status here stated that you are a good person and supposed to receive your payment long ago but know one tell you the truth or the normal step to follow to receive your payment.
Now declare how you will like to receive your fund and arrange on how to obtain TC1-Form from the office of the presidency.
This TC1-Form is to enable the president of Benin Republic Dr.Patrice Talon endorse your payment file and your payment will be paid with immediate effect via any means of your choice.
Get back to me with your direct mobile phone to enable me proceeds with your payment file via this email( info_economy@financier.com )
Meanwhile you are advice to stop any communication from whose ever is contacting you about your fund. Any email you received forward it to me for proper investigation.
Congratulations.
Regards,
Dr. Mohamed Ahmed
Ministry of Economy and Finance,
Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
