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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:
- 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. )
- "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. )
- "foreign exchange" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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: "Foreign Remittance (Bank Of America)" <info.atmremittancedepartm@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:04:44 +0100
Subject: Indicates and granted that your funds will be transfer from the
stated dollars account to your destination bank account.
Attention Please: Sir.
First and foremost, this office wants to use this medium to extend
their warmest greeting to you for having the courage to endure up till
this moment because of the attitude of the unscrupulous elements who
has created a very bad reputation for the society.
Subsequent to the telex transmission advice we received, this further
indicates and granted that your funds will be transfer from the stated
dollars account to your destination bank account. Please try all you
can to reconfirm us your bank account so that to receive your funds,
you must open an account with us to deposit your money .the minimum
that would open this account is $36 to cover the transfer made on the
spot. This is in contrast to other financial markets to take full
advantage of the best exchange rates as the market fluctuates so you
will never put on hold or have to negotiate currencies rates or pay
any foreign exchange fees.
Please you have to send it today so that we can get things done
without any further delay again. Below is the details to send the
money by Western Union or money gram Only with the name of our
accountant:
Receives Name:--------Ifeanyi Chukwu John
Country:--------- Benin Republic
City/state:--------- Cotonou.
Question:--------- How many Mins?
Answer:-------- -20mins
Amount:--------- $36
MTCN:---------
As soon as you send the fee, try to forward us the payment details
today so that we can proceed without any delay again. After you pay
the opening of account fee and your new account is activated and
authorized for use than we will wire the transfer as you wish. Please
send us your full contact information. N/B: Please dont forget to send
us your full account details this morning so that we can proceed
immediately.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Thank you ,
Dr. Destiny Mike
Senior manager, Foreign Remittance (Bank Of America)
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Anti-fraud resources:
