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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:
- "million dollars" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- posteofficebenin@rediffmail.com (Rediffmail, India; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Official Transfer <markjimmy527@gmail.com>
Reply-To: posteofficebenin@rediffmail.com
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2014 07:12:33 +0000
Subject: YOUR BLESSED PACKAGE
Hello My Friend.
This is to inform you that i have registered your ATM CARD PACKAGE to
the POST OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC 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 USD6.5Million Dollars,and the POST
OFFICE assured me that there will be no stoppages until it get to your
hand. I want you to contact them and re-confirm your address where to
Post it.
Contact Dr James Victor,
03 BP 1000,COTONOU
BENIN REPUBLIC.
E-mail:(posteofficebenin@rediffmail.com)
Telephone +229 97615755
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 cost of $198.00 usd. as official
stamp & postal charges together. Your Current address have to be
re-confirmed when you contacting the post office. e-mail me as soon as
you receive your Envelope.
Thanks & remain blessed.
MR. Mark Jimmy
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