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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "moneygram" (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 gram" (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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: MoneyGram Online Payment Order. <moneygram.online2011@live.com>
Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 18:16:09 +0200
Subject: FUND TRANSFER OF $7000.00 USD
ATTN: BENEFICIARY,
FUND TRANSFER OF $7000.00 USD
INFORMATION REACHING US FROM OUR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS NOW, STATING THAT YOU ONLY HAVE 48HOURS TO SEND PAYMENT FOR THE ACTIVATION OF YOUR PAYMENT MTCN TO ENABLE YOU CASH UP YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF $7000.00USD FROM YOUR TOTAL (FUND) SINCE YOU ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO PAY THE AMOUNT REQUESTED EARLIER. NOW WE HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY ANY AMOUNT YOU HAVE AT HAND FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE SINCE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE REQUIRED SUM AND THERE IS NO TIME LEFT. CONTACT US WITH THIS EMAIL (moneygram.online2011@live.com)
YOU ARE TO PAY ANY AMOUNT YOU HAVE AT HAND FOR THE ACTIVATION FEE NOW. WE WILL ACTIVATE YOUR MTCN ONCE WE RECEIVE THIS PAYMENT.
BE INFORMED THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM OF YOUR ACTIVATION ONCE YOU CASH YOUR FIRST $7000.00 USD. ALSO I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INFORM YOU THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE BALANCE SUM WILL LEAVE US WITH NO OPTION THAN TO DEACTIVATE YOUR MTCN AND YOU WILL NEVER CASH UP THE REMAINING PAYMENT BALANCE.
NOW SEND THE RENEWING AND TRANSFER FEE WITH THE INFORMATION BELLOW.
1. RECEIVER NAME:............. MR. SAM CHIKA.
2. COUNTRY:............. BENIN REPUBLIC WEST AFRICA.
3. CITY :............... COTONOU .
4. QUESTION:....HONEST
5. ANSWER:......TRUST.
6. AMOUNT .......... SEND ANY AMOUNT AT YOUR HAND NOW.
SEND US THE MTCN NUMBER IMMEDIATELY YOU SEND THE MONEY AND ONCE WE CONFIRM THE PAYMENT FEE WE WILL SEND YOU THE FIRST RECIEPT OF YOUR $7000 TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW
DR. PAUL IDIGA.
OPRATION MANAGER.
MONEY GRAM PAYMENT DEPT.
PHONE: (229) 95 716822.
EMAIL: moneygram.online2011@live.com
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