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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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "are expected to pay " (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. )
- "the 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)
- "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)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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. )
- 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: "U.S.A. Internal Revenue" <officeone---393746@att.net>
Reply-To: headofficebenin@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 04:47:38 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department
U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service Department.
Bureau of Consular Affairs Washington , DC 20520
Greeting from USA I.R.S,
Attention: Please
We write to inform you that your package with reference number 2661428 has been in Customs facility custody waiting for resolutions of the clearance to further the delivery to your delivery address by the delivery Agent who came all the way from Africa. We have been waiting for you to contact us regarding your consignment box which the agent suppose to deliver to you which was on hold by USA Customs Department and are requesting for clearance certificate which will be obtain from the origination of the consignment box before it will be released from the Customs to the delivery agent to complete the delivery.
After the phone call we made on your behalf to the USA Customs Authority and the Government of Benin Republic, it was resolved that the delivery of your consignment to your address must be complete within two (2) working days upon your compliance to our directives; You should send the sum of $78.00 usd to obtain the needed Ownership-clearance certificate from Benin Republic by contacting FedEx Express Courier Company where the Package coming from.
The clearance charges which was initially on the high price has been cut down by the US Embassy in Benin Republic considering the poor economic situations that make it difficult for the middle class citizens to meet up with the clearance of their entitlement. We will upon the confirmation of your clearing charge assign Diplomatic Agent (Mr. Anderson Fair) to proceed with the delivery.
Once we confirm the Ownership-clearance certificate from FedEx Office Benin Republic, We will release your consignment to you and it will be delivered to you by the agent,
Note that you are expected to pay only $78.00 usd for Ownership-clearance CHINEDU SUCCESS, as accountant officer FedEx Office Benin Republic Send the $75.00 usd through western union once you receive this mail with the information below for immediate release of your package,
Receivers Name:_____ CHINEDU SUCCESS
Country/City:_________Republic of Benin
Test Question:_______Which Color
Answer:____________Blue
Amount:____________$78.00usd
Once you send the money please notify the FedEx Office with the MTCN for easy pick up and for immediate action on the release of your Ownership-clearance certificate.
Note that any unclaimed consignment will be return to Benin Republic Government after 7 days. So you are urgently advised to comply with our directives so that we will release your consignment immediately.
Yours Sincerely.
Mr. Douglas Shulman
Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service.
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