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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)
- "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. )
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: office file <officefile110977@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: office file <charles_knightusambassador@postribe.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 13:24:09 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: urgent attention to this.
Embassy of the United States of America
Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive
Central District Area, Benin Republic
E-mail: charles_knightusambassador@postribe.com
Dear Friend,
THIS IS AMBASSADOR CHARLESÂ KNIGHT. UNITED STATE OF AMERICA AMBASSADOR TO
BENIN. I SHALL BE COMING TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR AN OFFICIAL MEETING
AND I WILL BE BRINGING YOUR FUNDS THROUGH AN ATM MASTER CARD OF $7.5
MILLION USD ALONG
WITH ME BUT THIS TIME I WILL NOT GO THROUGH CUSTOMS BECAUSE AS AN AMBASSADOR
TO BENIN, I AM A US GOVERNMENT AGENT AND I HAVE THE VETO POWER TO GO THROUGH
CUSTOMS, AS SOON AS I AM THROUGH WITH THE MEETING I SHALL THEN PROCEED TO YOUR
ADDRESS. (SEND YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER AND THE ADDRESS WHERE YOU WANT ME TO
BRING THE PACKAGE).
YOU HAVE REALLY PAID SO MUCH IN THIS DELIVERY THAT MAKES ME WONDER. YOU ARE A
VERY LUCKY PERSON BECAUSE I SHALL BE BRINGING IT MYSELF AND THERE IS NOTHING
ANYONE CAN DO ABOUT IT. CHECK Ambassador U.S. Ambassador to
Benin HERE: http://Benin.usembassy.gov/biography.html .PRIVATE E-MAIL:
charles_knightusambassador@postribe.com
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE GREAT DOUBT AND DISTRUST IN YOUR HEART IN
RESPECT TO THIS EMAIL COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT SO MANY MISCREANTS AND
IMPOSTERS (SCAMMERS) HAVE TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE INTERNET TO FACILITATE THEIR
NEFARIOUS DEEDS, THEREBY MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR GENUINE AND
LEGITIMATE BUSINESS CLASS PERSONS TO GET ATTENTION AND RECOGNITION
YOUR PACKAGE($7.5 MILLION USD) MUST BE REGISTERED AS AN AMBASSADORIAL
PACKAGE FOR ME TO
DEFEAT ALL ODDS AND THE COST OF REGISTERING IS $100.00 THE FEE MUST BE PAID
IN THE NEXT 24Â HOURS VIA MONEY GRAM ONLY SO ALL NECESSARY
ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE BEFORE TIME WILL BE AGAINST US.
YOU SHOULD SEND THE FEE DIRECTLY TO THE CARGO REGISTRATION OFFICER WITH THE
INFO BELOW-
Receivers Name==========  Emmanuel  Obalim
Country ========= Benin Republic
City ============= Cotonou
Text Question ========= Urgent
Answer ============ Today
Amount ======== $100.00
Senders Name ====
Senders==== Country
Mtcn ====
AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE FEE MAKE SURE YOU SEND ME THE PAYMENT INFORMATION. MY
FLIGHT IS ON AND I EXPECT YOU TO COMPLY BEFORE THEN SO THAT THE
DELIVERY CAN BE COMPLETED. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY, THEN IT WILL NOT BE MY FAULT
IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE.
SIGN
HIS EXCELLENCY TERENCE P MCCULLEY.
US AMBASSADOR TO BENIN
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