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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. )
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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: Mariam Halidu <"www."@abeam.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Mariam Halidu <ifzenithbank@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2017 01:41:30 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention: Beneficiary:
Zenith Bank of Benin Republic
No, 16 Hammed express road Tokpa Cotonou
Attention: Beneficiary:
I am Mariam Halidu, the new Head authorized Fund Crediting Manager handling all foreign unpaid inheritance and contract
fund.Your email is among the listed beneficiary who have not receive their inheritance payment and also among the once who
want claim their inheritance.Your payment file have been open today after the World Bank Executive board meeting concerning
all Unpaid inheritance and we notice that your payment have been kept pending for a very long time due to the wrong
information given previously by the payment Administrative officer.
The Federal Republic of Benin under the instruction of His Excellency President Patrice Talon have given Order in the First
Quarter Payment Approval yesterday to release all outstanding payment through our Bank and your name is among the listed
approved beneficiary to receive their Part payment of US$4.8M.
Further more, to be sure of whom we have contacted, The Skye Bank Management here by advice that you fill and return the below
listed personal details so as to enable us cross check with the one in your payment file here before we commence with the
release of your approval part payment.
First Name:
Last Name:
Middle Name:
Address:
DOB: (Date of Birth):
Telephone:
Mobile Phone:
Occupation:
Copy of your Identification: Drivers License OR
International Passport Copy:
Next of Kin Name:
And re-confirm your full bank detail's such as;
Bank Name:
Account Name:
Bank Account Number:
Routing/ Swift Number:
Once you confirm your information complete we will process for the transfer. More further; You need to open International
Bank Account in our bank here in Zenith Bank of Benin as to enable us follow the bank account to transfer your fund into
your bank account in your country and only money bank will collect from you is $76 so immediately you send the $76 today your
fund $4.8million will transfer to your bank account.
Use this information send the money via Western Union or Money Gram
with the bellow information:
Receiver name.....Emeka Alex
Country: .......Benin
City: ............Cotonou
Amount: .........$76
Once you send the money forward the payment slip via attachment to us enable us processed for your transfer. We Sincerely
Apologize for the delay you have encountered in trying to receive your fund, but we assure you that those delays will never
be encountered again.
Best Regards
Regards,
Mariam Halidu
Executive Governor Zenith Bank of Benin Republic
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Anti-fraud resources:
