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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- "osita.chinaka@yahoo.co.za" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: "MR MUSA BELLO" <musabello@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: osita.chinaka@yahoo.co.za
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 07:45:51 -0700
Subject: DEAR FRIEND,
DEAR FRIEND,
SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCES. WELL, I JUST WANT TO USE THIS MEDIUM TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EARLIER ASSISTANCE TO HELP ME IN RECEIVING THE INHERITANCE FUNDS, WITHOUT ANY POSITIVE OUTCOME.I AM OBLIGED TO INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE SUCCEEDED IN RECEIVING THE FUNDS WITH THE HELP OF A NEW PARTNER FROM CHILE.CONTACT MY SECRETARY IN COTONOU DE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF BENIN BECAUSE I HAVE LEFT THE WHOLE INSTRUCTION TO HIM ON YOUR AND INSTRUCT HIM WHERE TO SEND THE $1.5 MILLION WITH OUT ANY FURTHER DELAY FOR YOUR COMPENSATION.
HIS NAME IS MR. OSITA CHINAKA
EMAIL: osita.chinaka@yahoo.co.za
NOTE : BELLOW IS THE REQUIRED INFORMATIONS YOU WILL SEND TO MY
SECRETARY
(1) YOUR FULL NAMES
(2) YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS
(3) YOUR DIRECTCELPHONE NUMBER AND HOUSE PHONE WITH FAX IF ANY .
IN THIS MOMENT, I'M VERY BUSY HERE IN CHILE BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT
PROJECTS, WHICH THE NEW PARTNER AND I ARE HAVING AT HAND. SO FEEL
FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MR RICHARD SILVA TO SEND THE CHEQUE TO YOU
WITHOUT ANY DELAY.
REGARDS
MR MUSA BELLO
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Anti-fraud resources: