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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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "interpol.beninrepubli@w.cn" (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.
- 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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: Hon chief Jeff Robber Carl <infoorgn@gmail.com>
Reply-To: interpol.beninrepubli@w.cn
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:01:59 +0900 (KST)
Subject: from international police Benin branch
Attention; Beneficiary,
This is to bring to your notice that we the international police Benin branch west Africa (Interpol) are to officially inform you that fbi of America informed us to carry on investigation concerning the transaction that you are having over here in the Africa .though every Investigation in respect of your fund of $1,5million usd was made completely but after our investigation consultant with West Africa monetary institute (wami) your fund was handed over to us according the instruction given to us by the FBI of united sate of America, the meeting that was going on for pass 7days now ended today.
Confidential note; we are glad to inform you that our officers have gone to western union money transfer today and secure your total fund $1,500000.00 usd from the office of western union money transfer agency that suppose to transfer the fund to you through their western union office but due to the result of huge amount money they are demanding from you one after another that is why could not allow western union money transfer to transfer your fund any more ,so the fund is now in our custody and stop contacting any to avoid scam because your fund is not with them any more .
So be inform that the fund is now in our custody here in our office and we are to deliver the fund to you through our diplomatic international agent which is easier and reliable. Now as we have interfere in this matter we are given you the %100 assurance that no any department has any right to stop your fund not to be transferee or delivered to you and you are free to receive your fund from us as Interpol guiding the Africans this means that the whole of your struggle and suffering is over.
Be inform that all you have to do now is to try and see that you meet up with our request so that we can release your fund and delivery it to you immediately with out having any other problem but the only thing that is holding your fund here is that you have to confirm to us your full information where to deliver the fund to you and you have to come up with our duty service charge which is $98 dollars only ,
You are advice to urgently send to us the duty service charge that must to be paid by the beneficial as congregation of international fund which is $98.oousd and fill your full information below so that you will receive your fund this week .
Your full name
Your delivery address
Your direct phone number
Your picture
Your occupation
Here is the information to use and send the fee today.
Receivers: Okolo Christian
Country : Benin republic
City: cotonou
Postal code; 00229
Test question: how long?
Test answer: soonest
Amount: $98
Mtcn............
Do not forget to send to us the payment information immediately you have send the money. Further information stop contact the western union money transfer so as not to be deceive by any western union department here in Benin Africa to avoid wasting your fund money.
Thanks and god bless
Email:(interpol.beninrepubli@w.cn)
Hon chief Jeff Robber Carl.
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