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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "service fee" (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. )
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "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 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.mike williams" <"WWW."@vanilla.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr.mike williams" <mikewilliams104@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 01:33:00 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From United States Former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin
From United States Former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin:
This is MR.mike williams the Former United States Ambassador to Republic of
Benin, I came down here in Cotonou Benin Republic for an ECOWAS meeting and I
was searching for some files that I left in this office before I left and found
out that you have not received your fund, and I asked the present ambassador Mr
James Knight what happened that you have not receive your fund since months
ago, and he said that you refused to pay the required fee for the delivery of
your ATM CARD.
I'm contacting you this morning because the director of the ATM CARD center
here in Benin Republic said that they will divert your ATM CARD to the
Government Treasury just because that you cannot pay for the service fee of
your ATM CARD which is $105.00 only according to them.
But I told them to wait until I hear from you today so that I will know the
reason why you rejected such amount of money $5.5 Million which will change
your life just because of $105.OO
I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this email and explain to me
the reason why you have abandon your ATM CARD because of $105.OO But if you
don't need it then I can change your name to another person so that this
Government will not claim this money but I know that you will love to have it.
My dear I want to help you to receive this fund because it was a big shock to
me that you have not receive your ATM CARD and withdraw your money since months
ago you will receive your fund before the end of this meeting.
This is where you should send the fee today and don't fail to do that as I have
said.
Receiver Name====mike eguatu
Country =======Benin Republic
City ============= Cotonou
Text Question ===== When
Answer ============ Now
Amount ======== $105.00
Sender Name ====
Mtcn ====
I will wait to hear from you today with the mtcn number.
Your
Ambassador MR.
Tale: +229 99609646
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