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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. )
- "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.
- 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: Jack Paul <wb8689036@gmail.com>
Reply-To: jackpaul1718@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2021 11:58:26 +0100
Subject: your ATM Visa card
Date: 11/12/2021
Hello My Dear,
This is to inform you that your ATM Visa card was deposited to this
office deposited on the 10TH of July 2021 since you was unable to
receive your fund through western union, Courier Delivery Companies
and some banks transfer which also fail for one reason or the other.
We thank you so much for contacting us for your confirm able ATM visa
card which contains the sum of $850,000.00 United States Dollars.
We wish to inform you that your ATM visa card will be mail to you in
envelope which will contain the pin code and instruction from the bank
of how to use the card once the card gets to your postal address.
Note that the amount of $850,000.00 is a compensation fund coming to
you from Benin Financial Intelligent Unit (BFIU)
BFIU further told us that the use of Benin Couriers, western union or
money gram was abolished due to interception activities noticed in the
above mentioned services in Benin, and thereby have made a concrete
arrangement with the Post Office Service Benin for a safe delivery to
your door-step once you pay for the duty stamp fee of $22.and posting
fee of $43 which is $65 all together.
Please note that you advise to reconfirm your postal address to avoid
wrong delivery when posting your card to you.
Please you are to reconfirm and provide to us your postal address below.
Your full name...
Your country/ City...
Your postal address...
Your direct phone...
Note that there is no other charges or fee to pay the duty stamp fee
of $22.and posting fee of $43 is paid to us in this office.
Here is our cashier information below that you will use to send the
duty stamp fee of $22.and posting fee of $43 which is $65 all together
and forward the payment information to the post office for immediate
stamp of your ATM VISA CARD post to your home address.
Receiver name....Moses Ekoku
Country....Benin Republic
City....Cotonou
Question...Post
Answer....Office
Amount...$65
Your urgent respond with the payment information and will be
appreciated and fast the mailing of your card as soon as we confirm
the payment from you today.
Thanks
Your best regard
Jack Paul
Manager Of Post Office Benin Republic
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