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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:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "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. )
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Pst. John Whaty." <info.effegooffice1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info.johnoffice1@zmail.com
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 10:49:07 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: AWAITING URGENT TRANSFER.
Dear Sir/Madam ,
This is to inform you on how to recover your consignment/PAYMENT in the quickest fashion.: note that I have contacted the diplomat that cargo your payment to US and he let me understand the hole process .
he said that the process they are about to follow will take weeks and the customs will like to see the content at the boarder line and it is necessary we avoid it because of what we declare as it will not mach with what is in the declaration and that is a question to answer . he told me that we should sick for custom clearance entries document to enable them deliver it to you with searching and also make a booking with their office for they to transfer it to your destination .
I have contacted the various offices and confirm every information .right now they have agree to our condition to transport your consignment to your destination address and you will pay their expenses after you have confirm your consignment OK .
They have send me booking form to fill and return to them . this form you will give me your full destination t address to put as the port of delivering and exactly date and time to meet you.
For security purpose you need to leave secrete Q & A which must be asked before they handle it to you . they want us to write a promising note in cast you do not pay their fees two weeks after then they will hold us responsible . I will send this note to them today as soon as I hear from you .
And for the custom clearance entries document , the office here charge $30 for the issuance so on your readiness to follow this betterment arrangement try as fast as you can to send the money via western union or money gram. please send the requested fee $30 via western union or money gram with the with the name below.
Receives Name:-Godson C. Oteh
Country:-Benin Republic
City/state:-Cotonou.
Question:- Outstanding
Answer:-Payment
Amount:-$30
Senders Name:-
Mtcn(Money Control Number):-
As soon as you send it forward the information and your full contact address as well as the time and day you want the delivering this is a process of 24 hours entirely .I want to finish up this transaction before this Week runs out.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Thanks,
Pst. John Whaty.
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Anti-fraud resources:
