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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. )
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "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: "Dr. Rotzinger Michael Dwaine" <"www."@festa.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr. Rotzinger Michael Dwaine" <drrotzingermichaeldwaine@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2017 21:02:35 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Notification of Your Loaded ATM VISA Card Is Ready
Notification of Your Loaded ATM VISA Card Is Ready
The ATM VISA CARD is credited with the sum of$5,500.000.00 USD(Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars), it is already loaded in the Master Card which you can use to access your fund in any ATM Stand/location worldwide and remember that the maximum withdrawal daily limit is Ten Thousand United States Dollars(US$10,000.00)
UPSHhrs/$130 FedExrhrs/$150 DHLMays/$175
Note that you will be liable to pay the delivery fee of your ATM VISA Card with any of the above courier company of your choice before the delivery will take place to your destination address.and bellow is the details to send the fee via western union and Money gram kindly get back to me with the payment details get back to me with the details
Receiver's name: BEN EJAH
Country: Republic of Benin
City:Cotonou.
Amount......?
BEST REGARDS,
Dr. Rotzinger Michael Dwaine
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Bank Benin Plc
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Anti-fraud resources:
