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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:
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: Hon Ms Mary Samuleh <raul_benzi@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: Hon Ms Mary Samuleh <chukseze@gmx.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2014 11:46:00 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF).
 INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF).
Mr. George Chuks. THE NEW Contacts
Senior Resident Representative in London
01 Bp 1478 Cotonou. Benin Republic
Attention,
A power of attorney was forwarded to our office by one gentle man and he is a citizen from united state of America and his name is MR MILLER GRAIG DOUGLAS. This man claimed to be your representative and this power of attorney stated that you are dead after brief illness and he brought account to replace your information in other to claim your fund of $2.7million us dollars which is now lying dormant and unclaimed, below is the new account he have submitted:
You are therefore given 24hrs to confirm the truth in this information, If you are still alive, You are to contact us back immediately, Because we work 24hrs just to ensure that we monitor all the activities going on in regarding the transfer of beneficiaries inheritance and contract payment.
NOTE THAT IF YOUR ARE ALIVE AND NOT DIED AND YOU WANT YOUR FUND WITHING 24hrs YOU HAVE TO PAY FEE OF $70 ONLY FOR THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND AND IN NEXT 24hrs YOUR FUND WILL BEEN RELEASE AFTER WE RECEIVE THE FEE OF $70 TODAY AND WE MADE ALL THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENT WITH THE BANK THAT ONCE YOU CONTACT US WITH THE DEMANDED FEE OF $70 TO CONFIRM THAT YOU ALIVE WHAT US NEED FROM YOU AGAIN IS TO reconfirm US your Full information such as
1. Full name
2. Your home Address
3. Your current telephone number
4. A Copy Of Your ID CARD
5. Your country and city
6. Your occupation
NOTE that your fund will be transfer to you true (Telegraphic wire transfer to your account.or true ATM Card) and is going to take us 24hrs to transfer your fund as we receive the fee of $70 today.
NOTE THAT YOU HAVE TO USE WESTERN UNION TO SEND THE FEE OF $70 AND YOU HAVE 24hrs TO RECEIVE YOUR FUND USE THE INFORMATION BELOW TO SEND THE FEE
Â
Receivers Name:.. PATRICK OBUKE
Country ...Benin Republic
City ....Cotonou
Test Question...How long
Answer...24hrs
AMOUNT to send... $70 USD
Sender's name...
MTCN Number.......
You are to (call or Test SMS) to this number +22999090922 this office immediately for clarifications on this matter as we shall be available 24 hrs to speak with you and give you the necessary guidelines on how to ensure that your payment is wired to you immediately and also be inform that any further delay from your side could be dangerous, as we would not be held responsible for any wrong payment. Contact us as soon as possible if you are truly alive as we have his identification and residence he provides for us to wired the payment to him.
Thank and Remain Bless.
Mr. George Chuks The New
Contacts Number. 0022999090922
International Monetary Funds Payment Office.
Republic Du Benin.
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