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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:
- "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic agent" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "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: "MR. WILLIAM GODWIN" <officemon4@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "MR. WILLIAM GODWIN" <agent8271@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2015 15:15:25 +0900 (JST)
Subject: YOUR Diplomatic Agent
I'm Diplomatic Agent MR. WILLIAM GODWIN i just want to inform you about my successful arrival in
Dallas Fort worth International Airport Texas ,with your ATM VISA CARD. which I have been
instructed by DHL DELIVERY COMPANY to be delivered to you.
The Airport Authority demanded for all the legal back up papers to prove to them that the fund
is no way related with drug nor fraud money, I have presented the papers I handed to them and
they are very much pleased with the papers I presented but the only thing that is still keeping
me here is the airport Antidrug/terrorist clearance certificate and International Delivery
Permit which is not placed on the package, one of the Airport Authority has advise that we
get the delivery tag so that I can exit the airport immediately and make my delivery
successful to your home.
I try to reason with them and they stated the delivery tag will cost us just $79 Dollars only
to get the two documents placed on the packages as that documents will enable me to complete
your delivery to you.Please try as much as you can to reach me on Phone below as I can not
afford to spend much time here You can direct the tag fee to our Head Office as they will get
it here for you and they are entitled to receive and make any payment to foreign
countries authority.
Meanwhile you are advice to reconfirm the below information upon contacting
us to avoid delivery to wrong person.
1- Your Full Name
2- Your Delivery Address
3- Your Contact Telephone Number
4- Your Occupation
5- Your Identification (Passport number or ID
Card number)
Below is the information where the payment of $79 will be transfer to
Federal Ministry of Finance Benin Republic where the Tag Deliver will be
issue in your name.
r in formations
1.RECEIVER NAME:....... EMMA ODI
2.COUNTRY:...........Benin Republic
3.CITY :...............Cotonou.
4..TEST QUESTION:...Urgent
5.TEST ANSWER:......Today
MTCN:...............
SENDER NAME:...............
Amount.................$79
Email me the payment information as soon as you made the payment available to the name
of EMMA ODI in Federal Ministry of Finance.
Regard
DIPLOMATIC MR. WILLIAM GODWIN
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