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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:
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "million 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)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Aloysius Katsina-Alu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <bj.supremecourt@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2015 15:21:00 -0700
Subject: GOOD NEWS
SUPREME COURT OF BENIN REPUBLIC.
From: Aloysius Katsina-Alu Chief,
Justice of the Supreme Court of BENIN REPUBLIC
Attention Beneficiary
Provision of Affidavit of Claim Certificate for Legal Cover/ Protection of US$10.5 Million Dollars.
Please let us start by apologizing to your humble and noble person, this is because your payment file worth the total sum of US$10.5 Million Dollars has just been brought to my desk for cancellation which I have taken my time to look into the payment file to know why your overdue payment should be cancelled and i found out that it was because of your inability to secure your Release Approval Order Certificate (RAOC) that is why they have resolved to have your payment of US$10.5 Million Dollars cancelled.
However, on humanitarian ground and sympathy and because i do not want your payment cancelled so i immediately called up the president to explain your matter to him as regards your payment and he personally call up a meeting which they resolved that all payment charges and any payment fee be reduced to its barest minimum in order to enable you afford to pay the fee so that your payment will be released to you today.
To this end it will interest you to know that every and any fees/charges required of you have been reduced to only the sum of $95.00 us dollars this step is in order to enable you have this only fee paid so that your release approval order certificate (RAOC) is procured and acquired in other to enable the speedy transfer of your funds into any bank account of your choice.
Please we want you to know that you have till the end of today to effect the required payment so we can clear, release and effect the transfer of your fund to any bank account of your choice, so we advise you to pay the $95 us dollars through the western union money transfer or money gram below information and send back the payment details to this office immediately the payment is effected by you now.
Send the $95.00 us dollars through Western Union or Money gram.
Receiver's Name: Kenneth Ikem
City: Cotonou
Country: Benin Republic
Question: In God?
Answer: We Trust
Amount: $95.00 us dollars only
After payment has been made kindly send the below info for pick!
Sender's Name:...........
MTCN Number:...........
Sender's address:........
Sender's telephone number:......
We want you to know that we are indeed very sorry for any inconveniences any delay this must have caused you in having your fund paid out to you long before now.
You will never ever regret paying the fee, this is a promise to you after all your pains in the past as we are here to serve you as our word is our bond to you.
Confirm the receipt of this e-mail immediately and be rest assured that you will be smiling to your bank once you comply with the above directive. Your urgent response to this e-mail now will go a long way in helping us ensure your payment is released to you within 24 hours of you acting as instructed.
Looking forward for your immediate response today.
Yours Faithfully,
Aloysius Katsina-Alu
CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME
COURT OF BENIN.
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