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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:
- "atm payment department" (this phrase is often used in the ATM card payment scam)
- "activation 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. )
- "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. )
- "executive governor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "Dr.Larry J .Roland" <w.u.m.tp88@gmail.com>
Reply-To: coustmerscarecernter@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2012 01:29:57 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Your ATM CARD
UNITED BANK PLC ATM CENTRE DEPARTMENT BENIN REPUBLIC
ADDRESS/ No# 1105 Scoji Express Road Cotonou Benin Republic.
Mobile Phone: +(229) 68041889
Attn:Our Customer,
The Ministry Of Finance Benin Republic was notify us
your Email and your address as those that is paid to wrong people in Africa since
past years and your fund still remain unclaimed and after meeting held on 27th of
October 2012.
The Executive Governor of Ministry Of Finance Benin
Republic Dr.Felix Martins has Instructed this UBA Bank Plc Atm Payment
Department to code your total sum of US$4.6 into ATM MASTER CARD for Easy
delivery to your destination address for you to make use of your CARD in any ATM
MACHINE around you.
Executive Governor of Ministry Of Finance Benin
Republic Dr.Felix Martins have paid the the delivery fee of your ATM Master
Card. He paid it because the ATM Master Card of USD$4.6million has no less than
three WEEKS to expire and when it expires,The money will go into Government
purse.
Because you have paid a lot of money to wrong people which The
Ministry Of Finance Benin Republic has decided to help you pay the money so that
the ATM Master Card will not expire,
In view of that the United
Bank for Africa Atm Payment Department want you to pay only your re-activation
fee of $75.00 for immediate used of your CARD and you will advised to send the
money today so that your ATM MASTER CARD will be deliver to your address by
wednessday morning.
Please bear it in mind that there is no way the
money can be deducted from the card because that is against the law and you
should be informed that the ATM card and the pin code would be enclosed in the
envelope and you can make withdrawals from the ATM CARD any moment you receive
the parcel.
So below is our account officer info's for you to send the
$75.00 through Money Gram/Western Union.
Receiver's Name_____Mr.Charles Mmeze
Country:____________Benin Republic /City: Cotonou,
Test Question:_______What
Color?
Answer:____________Green
Amount:____________$75.00usd
Then
get back to us with below information.
MTCN:_______________________
Your
Sender Name:_______________________
Your Sender Address:______________________
Your Sender telephone
number:______________
As soon as payment is made do send an email with the
10-Digit MTCN numbers so that we can proceed with dispatching of your parcel
without wasting time. Be rest assured that the $75.00 is the only payment you
will have to make for the delivery of the ATM card and nothing more.
The
ATM CARD re- activate charges is only $75.00 and as soon as payment is confirmed
we shall immediately dispatch your parcel and email you with the Fedex tracking
numbers so as for you to be able to track your parcel online and know when it
get to your home to receive
it.
REGARDS.
Dr.Larry J .Roland
Phone:
+(229) 68041889
MANAGER, UBA BANK PLC ATM CENTRE DEPARTMENT BENIN
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