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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. )
- 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.
- +447011183209 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- steveabubaka0068@gmail.com
Fraud email example:
From: "David Bowel" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <steveabubaka0068@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:44:48 -0700
Subject: ATTENTION: PAYMENT NOTICE.
WESTERN UNION
WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION
SEND MONEY WORLDWIDE IN CONJUNCTION WITH
FINANCIAL MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
FOREIGN CONTRACTOR PAYMENT OFFICE.
ATTENTION:
We have concluded yesterday with the Representative Branch Governor of Access Bank in United kingdom that you should start receiving your payment of $1.5million.usd through Western Union Money transfer from today, But you will be receiving $5000.00usd only per day. So you are advised to contact Western Union operator Mr. Steve Abubaka right now and re-confirm your information to him as soon possible so that you can start receiving your first payment.
Below you will find the contact information’s of Mr. Steve Abubaka.
Email address:steveabubaka0068@gmail.com
Contact phone: +44 701-118-3209
You need to provide him the following information
Your Receiver's Name.
Your Country's name /code.
Telephone number.
All this information is to avoid sending your money to another trip.
Yours in service
Financial Minister
United Kingdom
Western Union
Welcome to Western Union
David Bowel
INVESTORS RELATION
Western Union passionately commits to doing business the right way and we are always looking for new ways to grow beyond our core business.
Consumers value the services we offer. What we do, helping people stay connected, brings vitality to relationships. And thinking responsibly for the company and the community is the anchor of how we do business.
© 2001-2009 Western Union Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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