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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "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.
- 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.
- kelvin4doyle@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Kelvin D. Darl" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kelvin4doyle@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2014 18:15:47 -0600
Subject: RE: DIAMOND BANK WESTERN UNION
DIAMOND BANK WESTERN UNION
455 AGBOKOU ANKPA ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE
MOTORS COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
Office Tel;+234 909 936 1697
Email: (kelvin4doyle@gmail.com
Attn: Valuable Customer,
In Respect to your mail We are happy to in form you officially that we received approval letter today from Mr James Williams IMF Managing Director Benin Republic, authorizing our Bank Western Union to program a total sum of $2.5000.000.00 USD and pay you through our western union money transfer system for your easy pickup and warned against any unforeseen delay that could make your fund not to get to you in a timely manner.
The IMF Managing Director Benin Republic (Mr James Williams ) have submitted your payment file to the Benin Consulate for screening and all data have being confirmed correct to pay you a total sum of $2.5.000.000.00 USD as a result overdue contract/Inheritance Funds/Compensation Funds and your Lottery Winning funds so far. We have been advised to send you $5.000 USD every day because Western Union laws here in Benin Republic can only transfer a maximum of $5.000 USD every day to you.
We have today transferred your first $5.000usd available for your pickup at any western union office in your City, but still on hold due to the unpaid activation fee of $105 USD which you supposed to pay before your transfer will be released to you.
NOTE: THE REASON WHY WE NEED YOU TO SEND US THE $105USD IS THAT WE TRIED TO DEDUCT THE ACTIVATION FEE OUT FROM YOUR FUND BUT THE MINISTER ADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND OF BENIN TOLD US THAT NO ONE HAS ACCESS OVER YOUR FUND AS IT HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND STAMPED THAT NO MONEY SHOULD BE DEDUCTED UNTIL IT GETS TO YOU TO AVOID ANY MISUNDERSTANDING,CRIMINAL ACT AND FOR SECURITY REASONS.
Your first payment Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) 122 219 4042)
SENDERS NAME
FIRST NAME_____Susan
SECOND NAME____Guynn
COUNTRY:________Cotonou / Benin Republic
Text Question____When
Answer_____________Today
MTCN_____(122 219 4042)
AMOUNT_____$5000USD
You will pickup the $5000 USD at any western union office in your country after 15 mins you send the $105 for the activation fee of your daily installment account. You are to send the activation fee today immediately on our bellow information through Western Union or Money Gram.
Here is the western union information you will send the $105 for the activation fee.
Receiver Name :::::::: Aweda Ganiyu
Country :::::::: Nigeria
City :::::::: Lagos
Question :::::::: urgent
Answer :::::::: payment
Amount :::::::: $105.00
Money Transfer Control
Number :::::::: (M.T.C.N)
Sender's name ::::::::
Sender's Address.............
As soon as you transfer the activation fee, send us the transfer MTCN on our bellow contact information to enable us receive and proceed with immediate transfer release of your $5.000 USD today.
Thanks for using our service while we wait your kind response,
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