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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "certificate 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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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)
- "western_transfer_plc@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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: "Mr. John William" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western_transfer_plc@w.cn>
Date: Sun, 30 May 2010 18:25:11 +0100
Subject: Reconfirm your information's below to avoid wrong transfer.
Western union payment office
Cotonou Benin republic
Address: 455 Agbokou, Ankpa road
Opposite Tunde motors Cotonou.
Web site: www.westernunion.com
http://site.www.westernunion.com
Attention: customer
The Board of federal ministry of finance Benin republic. are here to notify you of your
payment inherited funds of US $12,700,000usd directed in cash credited to file
ktu/9023118308/03 after the meeting held on 8th of may 2010.
His Excellence the PRESIDENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN DR YAYI BONI. Has instructed this
Department to send your funds through western union money transfer for easier receive of
your inherited funds without any further delay. To avoid paying money to the fraud stars
that is going on through the global. you are required to send your name and address were you
want your fund to be send through western union the maximum amount you will be receiving
each day starting from tomorrow is the sum of $10,000.00.
THE FINANCE MINISTER PAID A SUM OF $1755USD FOR YOUR CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE FEE SO KINDLY
RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO ENABLE US PROCEED THE TRANSFER TODAY.
Reconfirm your information's below to avoid wrong transfer.
1. Your full name.............
2. Your home address..........
3. Your current home telephone number.........
4. Your current office telephone........
5. A copy of your passport............
6. Your age..................
7. Country.................
As soon as this information is received you start receiving your fund immediately, please
use reference number 240-152 for our mutual convenience.
The management of western union money transfer Benin branch.
contact mr Oister Mama with this email(western_transfer_plc@w.cn)
Sincerely,
Mr. John William
Foreign remittance director
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Anti-fraud resources:
