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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:
- "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. )
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- 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 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.
- michelleobama123@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MRS MICHELLE OBAMA <wwww.@celery.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MRS MICHELLE OBAMA <mrsmichelleobama123@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 01:10:52 +0900 (JST)
Subject: FROM MRS MICHELLE OBAMA
How are you today?
I am Mrs. Michelle Obama and I am written to inform you about your
Bank Cheque Draft brought by the United Embassy from the government
of Benin Republic in the white house Washington DC which contains the
sum of $20.000.000 millions us dollars credited from the bank of
America, the delivery of your funds has been mandated to be deliver
to your address on Monday being 8th of August 2016 to you as soon as
you get back to me with your home address and your cell phone number.
Bear in mind that I have taking my time to be in charge of your funds
as instructed by my husband to ensure that you received your funds
successfully from the white house to reduce the economy and I’m the
only one that has your funds in regard to my husband Mr. Barack
Hussein Obama II and you will have to pay the sum of $150 only before
your Bank Cheque Draft will deliver to you on Monday, the reason why
the fee is required is to have your funds clearance paper from the
origin of the funds to avoid any harassment from the authority and
you are also expecting to be announce as winner of the said amount by
Monday as soon as your fund is delivered to you.
So you are urgent advised to get back to me with your home address
and also the payment information today for immediate effect of your
delivery. Note that the $150 is the only fee and final payment you
have my assurance.
However, according to our agreement with the originated Benin
Republic, all our communications should be on email for record
purpose so follow my instruction accordingly, even if you don’t have
the $150 try to borrow it and send it immediately because this is
your life opportunity and I don’t want you to lose the chance any
more.
Please I will advice you to urgent make the payment this morning via
western union or money gram money transfer to the listed cashier
information as instructed you by the originated authority. I will
look forward to received your email today with the payment to enable
the origin secure the required clearance papers required at White
House Benin to deliver your funds. Note that it will take only 14hrs
to deliver your Bank Cheque Draft in receipt of the $150 payment.
Please find the payment data below to send the $150 via money gram
Receiver Name: ERIC OJA
Country Benin Republic
City Cotonou
Question: Urgent
Answer: Needed
Amount: $150
MTCN reference number............
Sender Name...........
Sender's Telephone……
Sender's Address........
I look forward to your respond to your email with the payment today.
Regards
Mrs. Michelle Obama
(michelleobama123@yahoo.com)
The White House
(Official Residence of the President of the US)
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500 US
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