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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:
- "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. )
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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: "MRS.MICHELLE OBAMA" <doncooley63@gmail.com>
Reply-To: omrs.michelle41@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2015 13:16:33 -0700
Subject: FROM MRS. MICHELLE OBAMA, LAST NOTICE
How are you today?
I am Mrs. Michelle Obama and I am written to inform you about your
Bank Cheque Draft brought by the United Embassy from the government of
Benin Republic in the white house Washington DC which contains the sum
of $20.000.000
millions us dollars credited from the bank of America, the delivery of
your funds has been mandated to be deliver to your address on Tusday
being 4th of Aug
2015 to you as soon as you get back to me with your home address and
your cell phone number.
Bear in mind that I have taking my time to be in charge of your funds
as instructed by my husband to ensure that you received your funds
successfully from the white house to reduce the economy and I’m the
only one that has
your funds in regard to my husband Mr. Barack Hussein Obama II and you
will have to pay
the sum of $100.00 only before your Bank Cheque Draft will deliver to
you on Tusday, the reason why the fee is required is to have your
funds clearance
paper from the origin of the funds to avoid any harassment from the
authority and you are also expecting to be announce as winner of the
said amount by Tusiday as soon as your fund is delivered to you.
So you are urgent advised to get back to me with your home address and
also the payment information today for immediate effect of your
delivery. Note that the $100 is the only fee and final payment you
have my assurance.
However, according to our agreement with the originated Benin
Republic, all our communications should be on email for record purpose
so follow my instruction accordingly, even if you don’t have the $100
try to borrow it and send
it immediately today because this is your life opportunity and I don’t
want you to lose the chance any more.
Please I will advice you to urgent make the payment this morning via
western union or money gram money transfer to the listed cashier
information as instructed you by the originated authority. I will look
forward to
received your email today with the payment to enable the origin secure
the required clearance papers required at White House Benin to deliver
your funds.
Note that it will take only 14hrs to deliver your Bank Cheque Draft in
receipt of the
$100 payment.
Please find the payment data below to send the $100 via western union
or money gram.
Receiver Name: Fide Odili
Country Benin Republic
City Cotonou
Question: Urgent
Answer: Needed
Amount: $100.00
MTCN reference number............
Sender Name...........
Sender's Telephone……
Sender's Address........
I look forward to your respond to your email with the payment today.
Regards
Mrs. Michelle Obama
The White House
(Official Residence of the President of the US)
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500 USA
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