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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "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. )
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "info.ubabankservic@qq.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.
- 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: Dr Chris James <onlinebankingaccount@barid.com>
Reply-To: <info.ubabankservic@qq.com>
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 2015 07:06:08 -0800
Subject: UNITED BANK PLC ATM CENTER DEPARTMENT BENIN REPUBLIC
--
UNITED BANK PLC ATM CENTER DEPARTMENT BENIN REPUBLIC
ADDRESS/ No# 1105 Scoji Express Road Cotonou Benin Republic.
Call our office line Mobile Phone: +(229)687-342-79
Attn:Our Customer,
The Ministry Of Finance Benin Republic was notify us your Email and
your
address as those that is paid to wrong people in Africa since past
years
and your fund still remain unclaimed and after meeting held on 29th of
January 2015.
The Executive Governor of Ministry Of Finance Benin Republic Dr.Felix
Martins has Instructed this UBA Bank Plc ATM Payment Department to code
your total sum of US$2.5M.Usd into ATM VISA CARD for Easy delivery to
your
destination address for you to make use of your CARD in any ATM MACHINE
around you.
Executive Governor of Ministry Of Finance Benin Republic Dr.Felix
Martins
have paid the delivery fee of your ATM VISA Card. He paid it because
the
ATM VISA Card of USD$2.5.million has no less than three WEEKS to expire
and
when it expires,The money will go into Government purse.
Because you have paid a lot of money to wrong people which The Ministry
Of
Finance Benin Republic has decided to help you pay the money so that
the
ATM VISA Card will not expire,
In view of that the United Bank for Africa ATM Payment Department want
you
to pay only your re-activation fee of $35.00 for immediate used of your
CARD and you will advised to send the money today so that your ATM VISA
CARD will be re-activate and get it delivered to your home address
through
Diplomatic System without any further delay.
Please bear it in mind that there is no way the money can be deducted
from
the card because that is against the law and you should be informed
that
the ATM card and the pin code would be enclosed in the envelope and you
can
make. withdrawals from the ATM CARD any moment you receive the parcel.
Please, below is their account officer info's for you to send the
$35.00
through Money Gram/Western Union.
Receiver Name (Alex Ikem)
Address C/B 312 City Cotonou Country Benin
Text Question God?
Anwer bless
amount $35 Dollar only
Then get back to us with below information.
MTCN.................
Your Sender Name.........
Your Sender Address........
Your Sender telephone number..........
As soon as payment is made, do send an email with the 10-Digit MTCN
numbers
so that we can proceed with dispatching of your parcel without wasting
time. Be rest assured that the $35.00 is the only payment you will have
to
make for the delivery of the ATM card and nothing more.
The ATM CARD re- activate charges is only $35.00 and as soon as payment
is
confirmed we shall immediately dispatch your parcel and email you with
the
DHL tracking numbers so as for you to be able to track your parcel
online
and know when it get to your home to receive it.
REGARDS.
Dr. Dr Chris James
Phone:+(229)68-734-279
Email: (info.ubabankservic@qq.com)
MANAGER, UBA BANK PLC ATM CENTRE DEPARTMENT BENIN REPUBLIc
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