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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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.Ruben Moussa" <cash.funds@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: inspectorgeneralpolice2011@live.com
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:13:11 +0900 (KST)
Subject: FROM HEAD QUARTER POLICE STATION
FROM HEAD QUARTER POLICE
STATION
ZOGBO COTONOU
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
BENIN REPUBLIC
WEST AFRICA
MR.RUBEN MOUSSA
E-MAIL: inspectorgeneralpolice2011@live.com
TELEPHONE: +229
9850 5129
Attention;
My Name is Mr. Ruben W. Moussa the
inspector general of police Benin
Republic,This is to inform you that the government of this country Benin
Republic are sending you the sum of $2.5millions of dollars
which you have lost in before because you have been waiting to receive it from Rose Larry, We got her arrested today.
The government is rewarding
this funds as one of the scam victim.
We where able to get your email
through those that extort money from you when the police got them arrested , One
of them gave us your email address who called his Name Johnson
Kuta.
The president of this country His Excellency Mr.Yayi Boni has sent
aside the sum of $2.5millions of Dollars in consignment to send to you through
Dhl Courier Company.
We thereby have made a concrete arrangement with
the DHL Courier Company for a safe delivery to your door-step once the
beneficiary meets up the demand of the conveyance.
Note that all the
delivery fee has been paid on your behalf. But you are advise to send only $185
dollar immediately to our office for your clearance certificate because our
agent will proceed to Du'Benin High Court first thing tomorrow morning so that
he should get the certificate before your consignment will leave this
country.
The DHL Courier agent will use the certificate to obtain the
transaction.
So you advice to contact inspector general of police Benin
Republic Office immediately with your full information for delivery of your
consignment and also to enable our office confirm that you are the real owner of
this Emaill address to avoid any mistake.
Your Full Name.......
Your
Country........
Your City............
Your Telephone Number.
The Amount
You Lost....
Your Passport..................
Your
Age............................
Contact our Office with this information
below for more information and for quick deliver of your
consignment.
Here are the SCAMMERS that were arrested and Johnson Kuta
is also here now
Below is where you can send the $185 to our protocol
officer.
Receiver's Name......Duru Uchechukwu
Country...............Cotonou
Benin Republic
Text Question..........We
trust
Answer.............In our God
Amount.$185
Mtcn.......
Your
senders country.............
Your senders
name.................
God
bless.
Mr.Ruben
Moussa
call
our office
telephone number once you receive this message for more
information
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Anti-fraud resources:
