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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:
- "required 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. )
- "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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Robinson Ewelem" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <w.esterunion@w.cn>
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:39:51 -0800
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed
Western Union Payments
OCEANIC BANK PLC
Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
Mr.Robinson Ewelem
Address; St, Peter & Paul
Road Cotonou Benin Rep.
Tel;+229-9629-0705
To The Attention Of Beneficiary;
The Board of federal ministry of finance Benin Republic are hereby to notify you of your payment inheritance funds of US$800.000 after the meeting held on 15th of August 2008. His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN (DR YAYI BONI) has Instructed this Department to send your funds through our Branch, OCEANIC BANK PLC western union money transfer for easy receive of your inheritance funds without any further delay to avoid paying money to the fraud stars that is going on through Courier Company.
You are required to send your name and address Where you want your fund to be send through This OCEANIC BANK PLC Western Union money Transfer.
The maximium amount you will be receiving per a day starting from tomorrow is $6000.00) and the MTCN NO# will be sent along with the Text Questions & Answers for you to receive your fund through any Western Union Location in your Country, Also you are required by this Department to send the Renewing & Reconfirming of your file charges of $98.00 dollar to help us Re-new and Re-cofirm your file that was deposited in this BANK along with your name and address below. Send the payment details to the following email address: w.esterunion@w.cn
Beneficiarey name--------------
Address------------------------------
Tel phone----------------------------
For further procedure get back to us urgently with your information above where to start sending the money Because As soon the required fee of ($98.00) received today for the Renewing & Reconfirming the payment file of your funds you will start receiving your funds as from tomorrow.
Send the (US$98.00) dollar through western union with the name and address below:
Receiver Name/....... Oforkansi John
City/............ Cotonou
Country/............Benin Republic
Text Question/............... What Color?
Answer/...............Blue
Amount/...........US$98.00
Sender's Name............
MTCN No#....................
We await for your urgent email with the payment information included with your address as requested above.
Yours in service
Mr. Robinson Ewelem
Western Union Benin
Republic Manager
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