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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "daniels.t@9.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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Tewani Nkubia Daniels." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <sgbbe.compt.dept@live.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 15:37:15 +0100
Subject: RE: Urgent Funds Transfer
Dear Customer,
My name is Mr. Tewani Nkubia Daniels , residing in Cotonou Benin Republic (West Africa). I am the Chairman of the Board of Directors with the bank (Societe Generale De Banques Au Benin- SGBBE) in Cotonou. I am contacting due to some information I unravel from the computer department of our bank concerning an amount deposited here in your favor. I discovered that this funds have not been paid to you after all department and authorities have approved the release of the funds.
Your representatives and lawyers misrepresented your interest for their selfish interest thereby made the whole transaction complex that the Director General could not absorb the rigors attached by your so call representatives and lawyers. As the Head of Computer department I can use my veto to re-address the in-proper documentations and have the Telex Department which is under my control transfer the funds to you immediately without further delays because the board of directors have already given their approval.
This you have to keep as a top secret to ensure that nothing hitches the transfer of your funds this time around. A word they say is enough for the wise. the value of your funds since the past 5years is US$8.5Million. In our bank I have broken some codes, bugged the bank's database and have been able to view all of your accounts and secured a deposit slip for the Key Texted Transfer KTT to your account in your country.
NOTE: More details shall be given to you as soon as I hears from you in my private email address at: daniels.t@9.cn
Please Fill the columns below :
Yours full Names .....................................................................
Address....................................................................................
Phone Numbers........................................................................
Banking Details.........................................................................
Copy of you Identification
RE: Urgent Funds Transfer
One thing you have to do is to remit the sum of US$295.00 which will be used to obtain a new payment slip because the one I did secure on your behalf have expired.
Your Immediate Cooperation will enable me to expedite action on this in a professional and timely fashion.
With Best Regards,
Mr. Tewani Nkubia Daniels.
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