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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:
- "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.
- centralbank_beninrp2014@yahoo.com.ph (Yahoo, Philippines, Philippines; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "scott" <scott@montgomeryprint.com>
Reply-To: centralbank_beninrp2014@yahoo.com.ph
Date: Fri, 10 May 2013 20:07:51 -0400
Subject: CONTACT PHONE NUMBER IS :+229-68652946
CONTACT E-MAIL: ( centralbank_beninrp2014@yahoo.com.ph )
I , WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT ICICI BANK INDIA /BANK OF AMERICA FINALLY RETURNED
YOUR $1.2MILLION TO CENTRAL BANK COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
HERE. THE TOTAL $1.2 MILLION IS AVAILABLE ON YOUR NAME HERE IN CENTRAL
BANK BENIN REPUBLIC FOR RECEIVING AS SOON AS YOU CONTACT DIRECTOR
HAMITZ DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL BANK COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
TRY TO REPLY THIS MESSAGE TOGETHER WITH YOUR BANKING INFORMATION CONTACT
PHONE AND ADDRESS SO THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE WIRE TRANSFER
OR BANK DRAFT OF TOTAL $1.2MILLION WHICH THE CENTRAL BANK HERE IN
BENIN HAS TO PAY YOU.REMEMBER THAT THE TRANSFER OF TOTAL $1.2MILLION
OR SENDING BANK DRAFT TO YOU WILL BE COMPLETED UNDER 48 HOURS OF
REPLYING THIS MASSAGE BY YOU.
DR.TANKODI HAMITZ ,
DIRECTOR CENTRAL BANK
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
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Anti-fraud resources:
