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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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "postofficebenin1@globomail.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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: Office File Barr John Paul <officefile----9073@att.net>
Reply-To: postofficebenin1@globomail.com
Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 19:48:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: CONTACT POST OFFICE AS FAST AS YOU CAN PLS
My Dearest One In God,
This is Barrister John Paul, I have registered your BANK CHECK to the POST OFFICE BENIN so that they will Post it to your home address and i believe your current address is still the same. Your total amount in the envelope is USD$5.5Million the POST OFFICE assured me that there will be no stoppage until it get to your hand. I want you to contact them and re-confirm your address where to Post it.But they did not know the real content so keep it secret ok.
Contact Mr.IFY Ibeto,
03 BP 1000,COTONOU
BENIN REPUBLIC.
E-mail: ( postofficebenin1@globomail.com )
Telephone +229-97530722
Your full information for the Postal.
Your full Name.........
Your Address............
Your Country............
Your Telephone..........
Manager,informed me that it will take good 3 days to get to your house and your Envelope accumulate as postal charges. Your Current address have to be re-confirmed when contacting the post office.let me know as soon as you receive your Envelope.
Thanks & remain blessed.
Barrister John Paul Esq
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