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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. )
- "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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "w.unionpaymtoff@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "w.unionpaymtoff@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "w.unionpaymtoff@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister PAUL JIM." <markjohn37@globomail.com>
Reply-To: w.unionpaymtoff@w.cn
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:43:04 -0300 (ART)
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT HAS BE SENT TO YOU MTCN:__163-681-3575
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC/ADDRESS 455 AGBOKOU, ANKPA ROAD
LAGOTES PALAR
WEB SITE.www.westernunion.com
CONTACT EMAIL:( w.unionpaymtoff@w.cn )
ATTN; BENEFICIARY:
THIS OFFICE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU EVER SINCE REGARDING THE
TRANSFER OF YOUR $2.5,000.00 BUT NO CALL OR EMAIL SO WE DECIDED TO UPDATE
YOU ABOUT THIS GOOD NEWS. WE FIND
OUT THAT THE $250 FOR THE TRANSFER CHARGE OF THE FIRST PAYMENT $5,000.00
IS TOO HIGH FOR YOU TO COME UP WITH
SO WE DECIDE TO REDUCE THIS FIRST PAYMENT TO $2,500 SO THAT THE TRANSFER
CHARGE WILL BELOW FOR YOU TO PAY.
SEND TO THE DIRECTOR INCHARGE OF YOUR PAYMENT DR MARK JOHN
EMAIL;(w.unionpaymtoff@w.cn )PHONE +229-988-24-009
Your Full Name------------
Your Address-----------
Home telephone------------
Office telephone--------------
SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO NOW IS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT OF HOW TO SEND TO US THE
TRANSFER CHARGE OF THIS $2,500 WHICH IS $175 TO ENABLE US RELEASE THE
FIRST PAYMENT TO YOU IMMEDIATELY. HERE IS
THE INFORMATION OF THE ONE WE SENT TODAY TO YOU BUT IT WILL REMAIN ON HELD
UNTIL YOU SEND US OUR TRANSFER
CHARGES OF $175 BEFORE WE CAN RELEASE IT TO YOU. WWW.WESTERNUNION.COM:
Sender...
Sender Name.....zinaida marchuk
MTCN............163-681-3575
Amount..........$2500
USE THIS BELLOW INFORMATION TO TRANSFER TO US OUR TRANSFER FEE
1.RECEIVER NAME:...........SUNDAY OSAGIE
2.COUNTRY:..................... BENIN REPUBLIC .
3.CITY :.............................. COTONOU .
4.TEST QUESTION:............WHO?
5.TEST ANSWER:..............GOD.
6.AMOUNT:........................$175, USD
YOUR URGENT RESPOND IS HIGHLY NEEDED.
REGARDS
DR MARK JOHN
FORIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE BENIN REPUBLIC
TELEPHONE +229 98824009
CONTACT EMAIL ; w.unionpaymtoff@w.cn
YOUR PAYMENT HAS BE SENT TO YOU MTCN:__163-681-3575
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