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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- 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.
- 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.
- mkscott3@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "UNO & Western Union New Year Promo" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mkscott3@sify.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 11.34.19 +0100
Subject: Your Western Union Is Ready For Pick Up Now
Attn:
This is to notify you that the management board of the United Nations Compensation commission made a payment of $5000.00 USD to you as a new year bonus as one of the most prominent users of the internet for the year starting 2011.
We are mandated to send you the total sum of $800,000 USD through Western Union But, you will be receiving $5000 each day till it will complete $800,000.00usd in total. Our main objectives is to make sure you receive a subtantial amount as early as possible this new year so you and your family can have a wonderful year ahead.
Furthermore, you have to go ahead and pick up the first payment of $5000 at any western union office close to you with these information below and after which you are expected to get bac to Mr. Richard Flemming so he can process and send you the next payment:
Sender's Name: First Name: PAUL Last Name: SMITH
MTCN :089 789 0013
Text Question: who
Answer: Me
City Where Payment Is Sent From: Sydney
Country: Australia
Amount Sent: $5000
Finally, after picking up the first $5000 get back to the officer in charge of this transaction in person of Mr. Richard Flemming
Contact e-mail: mkscott3@sify.com
Tel: +234 705 500 0827.
Regards
Mrs. Mariam Dennis
Managerment Western Union
Western Union® Welcome to Western Union Send Money Worldwide.
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Anti-fraud resources:
