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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found 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.
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- westerunion4545@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: wester union <www.@basil.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: wester union <westerunion4545@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2016 09:29:14 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attn: Valuable Customer,
DIAMOND BANK WESTERN UNION
455 AGBOKOU ANKPA ROAD OPPOSITE TUNDE
MOTORS COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
Office Tel;+229-99457562
Email: (westerunion4545@yahoo.com )
Attn: Valuable Customer,
In Respect to your mail We are happy to in form you officially that we received approval letter today from Mr.James Williams IMF Managing Director Benin Republic, authorizing our Bank Western Union to program a total sum of $10.5usd and pay you through our western union money transfer system for your easy pick up and warned against any unforeseen delay that could make your fund not to get to you in a timely manner.
The IMF Managing Director Benin Republic (Mr.James Williams ) have submitted your payment file to the Benin Consulate for screening and all data have being confirmed correct to pay you a total sum of $10.5USD as a result over due contract/Inheritance Funds/Compensation Funds and your Lottery Winning funds so far. We have been advised to send you $5000. USD every day because Western Union laws here in Benin Republic can only transfer a maximum of $5000usd every day to you.
We have today transferred your first $5000usd available for your pickup at any western union office in your City, but still on hold due to the unpaid activation fee of $95usd which you supposed to pay before your transfer will be released to you.
NOTE: THE REASON WHY WE NEED YOU TO SEND US THE $95USD IS THAT WE TRIED TO DEDUCT THE ACTIVATION FEE OUT FROM YOUR FUND BUT THE MINISTER ADMINISTRATOR TRUST FUND OF BENIN TOLD US THAT NO ONE HAS ACCESS OVER YOUR FUND AS IT HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND STAMPED THAT NO MONEY SHOULD BE DEDUCTED UNTIL IT GETS TO YOU TO AVOID ANY MISUNDERSTANDING,CRIMINAL ACT AND FOR SECURITY REASONS.
Your first payment Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) 6104811795
SENDERS NAME
FIRST NAME_____DEBRA
SECOND NAME____HUNTER
COUNTRY:________Cotonou / Benin Republic
Text Question____In God
Answer_____________We Trust
MTCN_____ 6104811795
AMOUNT_____$5000 USD
You will pickup the $5000 USD at any western union office in your country after 15mins you send the $95usd for the activation fee of your daily installment account. You are to send the activation fee today immediately on our bellow information through Western Union or Money Gram.
Here is the western union information you will send the $95 USD for the activation fee.
Receive Name:_________CHRIS OMABA
Country :________Cotonou / Benin Republic
Text Question____God
Answer_____________Bless
AMOUNT___________$95 USD Only
MTCN__________??????
SENDERS NAME _________
As soon as you transfer the activation fee, send us the transfer MTCN on our bellow contact information to enable us receive and proceed with immediate transfer release of your $5000usd today.
Thanks for using our service while we wait your kind response,
Sincerely
Managing Director: Mrs. Rose Danail
Phone: +229-99457562
Diamond Bank Western Union Department
Western Union
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