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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:
- "clearance 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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "tax 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. )
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "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 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.
- gailturm86@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr. TurMan Gail" <"www.mjy.20091101."@song.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Dr. TurMan Gail" <gailturm86@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2018 06:07:43 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dear Valued Customer...Revert Back With The Content?
Dear Valued Customer...
My name is Dr. TurMan Gail, the Director of Foreign Remittance Funds Transfer at Fidelity Bank. Congratulations, I am here to inform you that Fidelity Bank was assigned to transfer your funds the sum of $4Million to your bank account. We opened a domiciliary bank account in your name and your funds was deposited into the domiciliary account.The reason why you have not been notified about the funds before now is because we have been trying to purchase all the required documents so that the transfer will not be stopped by the International Monitory Funds (IMF).
Fidelity Bank is delighted to inform you that we have today completed all necessary arrangement that will enable the $4Million to reflect into your bank account successfully after three banking days from the day Fidelity bank will transfer the money. I am glad to inform you that Fidelity Bank is 100% ready to transfer the funds to any bank account of your choice anywhere in the world. I must also let you know that a tax clearance fee of $210 is required by the Inland Revenue Service Benin Republic and it's compulsory for this type of transfer.
It must interest you to know that the transfer fee and every other fees have bee paid. There will be no additional fees at all. Fidelity Bank will transfer the funds to any account you will provide without any delay as soon as you send the tax Clearance fee of $210. You have to forward your banking details so that we can transfer your funds to you.
The following is the receiver information to send the tax fee using Money Gram, RIA money transfer or Small World Money Transfer Or Western Union.
Receiver's Name : TURMAN GAIL
Country's Name : BENIN REPUBLIC
Receiver's City : COTONOU
Amount To Send : $210 USD
Text Question : GOD OVER
Text Answer : EVERYTHING
Be rest assured that the $4Million will be transferred same day we receive the tax Clearance fee. I want to make a strong promise to you in order to assure you that the funds will surly be transferred same day the tax fee is being paid for. I here take an oath with you, there will be no delay to transfer the $4Million to any account of your choice as soon as you send the tax fee.
We are FIDELITY, We keep our word.
Warm Regards,
Dr. TurMan Gail
E-mail (( gailturm86@yahoo.com ))
Director of Foreign Remittance
Funds Transfer, Fidelity Bank PLC.
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