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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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- 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.
- 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: "DR. GEORGE WILLIAMS" <GEORGE@honey.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "DR. GEORGE WILLIAMS" <george1.williams002@outlook.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2015 23:22:26 +0900 (JST)
Subject: =?utf-8?Q?FROM_DHL_COMPANY_(YOUR_ATM_CARD)=E2=80=8F?=
Welcome TO DHL BENIN REPUBLIC,
HEAD OFFICE 70 International Airport Road
Mafoluku, COTONOU
DR. GEORGE WILLIAMS
Tel.: +229 99757638
We will like you to know that your Fund sum of ($3.5Million) dollars has been released to us by the
Federal Republic of BENIN in Conjunction With the FBI AND CIA to release the
said amount to you.
It is our pleasure to inform you that ATM Card Serial Number; 4506-8675-2345-9245
has been approved in your favor. Your Personal Identification Number is 1500.
The ATM Card Value is ($3.5MILLION) USD Only. You are advised that a maximum withdrawal
value of $10,000 USD is permitted on withdrawal per Day and we are duely Inter Switch and
you can make withdrawal in any Inter Switch location and ATM Center of your choice in any part of the world.
You may think that we are scamming you but that was a typical lie because this is real and no
one will ever scam you form this DHL COMPANY and get away with it.
I want to give you some tracking listed for other people who have received their own
ATM CARD through our service and right now they are all enjoying it with no complain
check this tracking listed by typing our (website) then put 1(2896411641) 2 (2896411652)
3 (2896412061) (2897840175) if you must want to talk to any of this people who have
already received their own CARD I will provide you their contact details to verify
from them if this is real or not.
Your are to Re-confirm All Your valid address, phone number and Your name for us to be very sure that we are dealing with the rightful
beneficiary of the funds.
you are to Send your delivery charges through Western Union or Money Gram office with the below information.
Receiver's Name......Vincent Emeka
Country...........Benin Republic
City.............Cotonou
Zip code........+229
Test Question......Atm
Test Answer........Card
Amount.............$196
Sender's Name........?
Mtcn.................?
After sending the fee you are required to forward us the following information.
senders Name:
senders Country:
I will adviSe you to go ahead and pay your delivery charges and receive your ATM
MASTER CARD in not less than 48hours and begin to enjoy your life like others who have
received their own' note that if we don’t hear form you until 7 working days your ATM
CARD will be cancelled and the fund will be transferred back to the CENTRAL BANK OF
BENIN AS UNCLAIMED FUND.
Thanks and God bless
DR. GEORGE WILLIAMS
Tel.: +229 99757638
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Anti-fraud resources:
