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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. )
- 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: "Mrs.Faith Godwin." <ronin.david@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: wester.union1982@w.cn
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2010 15:24:09 +0100 (BST)
Subject: URGENT CONATCT WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
Western Union®
Dear Customer.
There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of $5000.000 USD directed in credited to file KTU/9023118308 at the owner of this email address. The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.
We require you to re-confirm some more information in order to complete this transfer.
FULL NAME:
FULL CONTACT ADDRESS:
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS AND AGE:
In order to resolve this problem, please email via Western Union Solicitors Fund Verification Department:
Name: Rev. Mark James.
Tel: +22998469717
E-mail: wester.union1982@w.cn
As soon as this information is received, and you have complied with the requirements of payment of the western union charges $105.00, the first information of the first payment of your US$5000.00 which has been made to you through Western Union Money Transfer will be sent, which you will pick as soon as possible in any western union office around you.
Track your first payment online now using senders first name and last name as directed below: https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=global
Here are the details:
Sender frist name : Glenn
Sender last name: William
MTCN No: 4199084617
Amount: USD$5000.00
Sender's Location: Benin Du Republic
Text Q.: In God ?
Text A: We Trust.
The sender name and other necessary details will be releas to you as soon as your credited file KTU/9023118308 charge is paid and being activated. Contact our agent above for further details. THE MANAGEMENT OF WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
DISPATCHED THIS DAY
Sincerely,
WUT Management Benin.
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