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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:
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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.bj77@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.
- 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.Rose Carrielee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western.union.bj77@w.cn>
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 2010 21:01:43 +0100
Subject: MTCN : 1931293519 TO PICK UP YOUR $6000.00 OK
Attention: My Dear Customer
This is to inform you that this office was instructed to pay your fund $1.5Million U.S.A Dollars by
America security leading team and America representative embassy between now until end of
Nove 2010 per day you will receive the sum of 6,000 Dollars,
However be informed that we have send the sum of $6000 Dollars this morning to avoid cancellation of
your payment you have only four hours to call this office upon the receipt of this
email the maximum amount you will be receiving per day starting from today is $6000 in three different
payments and the Money Transfer Control Number of today is below.
Sender's:: Name; Ben Marvin
MTCN ::: 1945293519
Text Question:::: who is the father?
How long Answer:::: God.
Amount::::USD$6,000.00
Once again be advice to reconfirm your information such as;
RECEIVER NAME____
COUNTRY___________
CITY________________
TEL_________________
TEST QUESTION______
ANSWER_____________
Furthermore you advised to call us as the instruction was passed that within 10 hours
without hearing from you. Count your payment cancelled. Number to call is below listed Manager
Director Office Dr.Simeon Miracle of release order funds: +229-99-77-70-64 or +229-93-04-83-70 .
E-mail addresses: western.union.bj77@w.cn
Thanks and my regards
Mrs.Rose Carrielee,
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Anti-fraud resources:
