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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- fbibenin25@yahoo.com.tw (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. John Francis Pikus" <m.officebenin70@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: fbibenin25@yahoo.com.tw
Date: Thu, 2 May 2013 09:13:49 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Anti-Terrorist and Monetary Crimes Division
Mrs. Faith Jordan
Anti-Terrorist and
Monetary Crimes Division
FBI Headquarters In Washington, D.C. Federal Bureau Of Investigation J. Edgar Hoover Building 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C.
20535-0001
FROM
FBI Director; Robert S. Muller III. and Mrs. Faith Jordan FBI
Director
Attention!
We have been watching every single transaction you made
since last year until this 2013 and you have
to know that we are also working to make sure your funds which are suppose to be delivered to you, and also
bear in mind that what ever you emailing us
will be forward to the court.
Also we are hereby to notify by the Federal Bureau Of
Investigation Cotonou Department of the
insult you imposed on them by failing to comply by their requirements.
Your full residential address has been forwarded to us
for your immediate arrest to face your
charge but I deemed it and fit to give you one more chance to save yourself from this mess.
We have been told that you
have failed to dance by the rule of the FBI which will warrant 2 years jail sentence. Now I John Francis
Pikus the special agent in charge of the FBI
Albany Department giving you 6 working hours to effect the payment of the $75.00 usd. To the FBI in
Republic Of Benin (FBI SECURITY) with the
information written below:
Receiver Name: NWAIGBO JEFF
Country: Benin
Republic
City:
Cotonou
Test
Question:Sent
Text Answer:Today
Amount: $75.dollars
only
Mtcn number:
_____________
Senders name :
_____________
Senders address :
_____________
You have to try as much as you can and make this payment
so that your funds will be delivered
immediately to your destination.You have to stop every transaction you are communicating with other
organization to avoid delay on
the processing of your funds.
Note that you? if you fail
to stick with my advice or any delay will lead to us coming directly to your home address at any time, so
try and dance by the rule and get back to me
with good understanding ASAP.
Special Agent in
Charge For Cotonou Benin; E-mail (fbibenin25@yahoo.com.tw)
Mr. John Francis
Pikus
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Anti-fraud resources:
