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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:
- "affidavit of claim" (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. )
- "required 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. )
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Timothy J. Sloan" <atmd773@gmail.com>
Reply-To: atm36421@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2023 23:08:48 +1300
Subject: WELCOME TO WELLS FARGO BANK
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058 USA
United States
Attention Customer.
In respect of your fund inheritance payment $33 Billion US Dollars, we
the bank authorities US Bank of Chicago IL, head office will send you
a new ATM VISA CARD that will accumulate your total funds of
$33Billion USD according to the instruction from our creditor
department here in the bank today. After the board of directors
meeting held on 27th FEB 2018 the total payment was approved for
payment to you in new ATM VISA CARD which you must use to make
withdraw of your fund in any ATM slotting machine around the world
with maximum amount of $25,000 USD in daily payment until you cash the
total payment of $33 Billion USD credited in your ATM account.
Meanwhile, you have to send the required fee of $50 USD request for
obtain the Affidavit of claim Ownership in your transaction with
government of your fund origin been Federal Justice Republic BENIN,the
US Monitory Fund Investigation Union head office in Washington DC
capital United State of America will declare your payment free from
any money laundry and terrorism drug money sponsor activities to
enable our service have the authority of release the payment to you
and register it with US MAILING POST for over-night delivery to your
address without delay.
Furthermore, Reconfirm the following information
Full Name......
Current delivery address....
Mobile phone number...
Direct phone number....
And here is information to send the fee to them because all modality
has already been worked out even before you were contact and
noted;also all we request from you is to follow our instruction so we
can deliver your ATM parcel to your address today. Send the $50 usd
only to(SONG OJIUKW) through WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM TRANSFER
SERVICE AND RIA TRANSFER OR BUY APPS STORES ITUNES CARD as list
following to enable them release the document today.
RECEIVERS NAME: SONG OJIUKW
COUNTRY::::BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY COTONOU
Text Question:...WHEN
Answer:........ TODAY
MTCN....
Send us the MTCN Control Numbers or money gram reference number once
you make the payment so we can direct it to the right office
imposition to release the document. And immediately you make the
payment to them the document will sign and your ATM parcel will
deliver to your address without delay.
Yours in service.
Mr Timothy J. Sloan
CEO WELLS FARGO BANK
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