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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:
- "security keeping 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. )
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- tnttcourier@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms.Rose Brown" <westcentralnations@w.cn>
Reply-To: tntexpress01@live.com
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:11:34 +0100 (BST)
Subject: PAYMENT NOTICE TRANSFER.
ATM PAYMENT CENTER.
INTERNATIONAL ONLINE TRANSACTION CENTER.
ATM DEPARTMENT HEAD OFFICE BENIN
MS.ROSE BRWON & ASSOCIATES
06 BP 1409 AKPAKPA DODOME
COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
ATTEN: BENEIFICARY.
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR FUND IN THIS OUR DEPARTMENT CENTRE WHICH WAS DEPOSITED BY A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION BODY ON THE 3RD OF THIS MONTH.
FURTHER MORE WE DEPARTMENT CENTRE HAVE CODED YOUR CHEQUE FUND IN ATM MASTER REASON YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WAS ATTACHED TO IT AND IS TO BE CODED AND SEND TO YOU. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO CONTACT US FOR YOUR CONFIRMABLE ATM CARD WHICH CONTAINS THE SUM OF $1.5MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS AND SOME VITAL DOCUMENTS BEFORE I WENT AND REGISTERED YOUR ATM CARD WITH TNT EXPRESS SERVICE COMPANY TO DELIVER IT YOU.
THIS IS TO BRING YOUR NOTICE THAT I HAVE PAID THE REGISTRATION AND DELIVERY FEE OF YOUR ATM CARD BUT THEY REFUSE TO COLLECT THEIR SECURITY KEEPING FEE REASON THEY DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE ATM CARD WILL STAY IN SECURITY DEPARTMENT ,NOW VERY URGENT TO CONTACT THE TNT EXPRESS SERVICE COMPANY RIGHT NOW SEND THEIR SECURITY KEEPING FEE OF $95 TO THEM.
NOTE: THAT YOU ARE TO PAY FOR THEIR SECURITY KEEPING FEE OF $95.ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR MR.JAMES NELSON YOU ARE ADVISE TO SEND THE THEIR SECURITY KEEPING FEE OF $95 THROUGH WESTERN UNION TO THEIR PRACTICAL OFFICER'S NAME BELOW AND FORWARD THE PAYMENT INFORMATION TO THEM FOR URGENT SHIFTS OF YOUR ATM CARD.
SEND THE $95 THROUGH WESTERN UNION WITH OUR CASHIER NAME BELOW.
RECEIVER NAME :::::::::::: ALEX MACHI.
COUNTRY::::::::::::::::::: BENIN REPUBLIC.
CITY:::::::::::::::::::::: PORTO-NOVO.
TEXT QUESTION::::::::::::: IN GOD.
ANSWER:::::::::::::::::::: WE TRUSTH.
AMOUNT:::::::::::::::::::: $95.00
AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE $95 TRY TO FORWARD THE PAYMENT DETAILS TO THIS EMAIL
ADDRESS LISTED BELOW.
DIRECTOR MR.JAMES NELSON
TNT EXPRESS COMPANY
EMAIL :( tnttcourier@hotmail.com )
Tel: +229 99 97 39 91.
LET ME REPEAT TRY TO CONTACT THE COMPANY AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVED THIS MAIL TO AVOID ANY FURTHER DELAY AND REMEMBER TO PAY THEM OFFICAL KEEPING FEE OF $95 TODAY TO AVOID INCREASING THEIR SECURITY CHARGES.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR ATM CARD FROM TNT SERVICE.
NAME: Ruth Brinson: Destination: FEDERAL WAY:Tracking Number 606263571: WEBSITE: (www.tnt.fr)
NAME: BENGT ARNE PERSSON : Destination:BREMEN : Tracking Number 666281974: WEBSITE: (www.tnt.fr)
HERE IS THE TRACKING NUMBER DIRECTION.
Click the on this WEBSITE ( www.tnt.fr ) then you will see on top TWO COLUMS but on left side end top you will see where they write ( SUIVRE UN COLIS ) in capital letter then under IT you will see ONE LINE just put this tracking number( 606263576 ) You will see again where they write in BLUE COLOUR ( Rechercher ) just click IT.THE WEBSITE will show you time and date their ATM CARD was LEFT and RECEIVED in good CONDITION.
Contact them Today to avoid increase of their keeping fee and let me know once you receive your ATM Card.
Yours Shipment Code: #AXIB 131ZXR,
Your Package Registration No; #Eg2272,
Security Code No: # 01721457,
Website:www.tnt.fr
Tracking number:666281974
Regards.
MS.ROSE BRWON SECREATARY OF
INTERNATIONAL ONLINE TRANSACTION CENTER,ATM DEPARTMENT HEAD OFFICE BENIN.
ATM PAYMENT CENTER.
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