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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. )
- "the consignment" (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)
- "consignment " (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)
- "we advice you" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- western.union11169@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Barrister Rita Danis <annstore01@gmail.com>
Reply-To: western.union11169@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:31:16 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: Contact Western Union Money Transfer Immediately
Attention Dear!!!
I am writing to inform you of the sudden development with your consignment. Due to the delay in providing the clearance requested before release of your consignment and it is against the Courier's working routing to keep such individual luggage/consignment without ascertain it's true content.
Based on this fact and to take custody of what was left on their care their verification Department consulted an X-ray your consignment and the result was shocking as the content of the consignment was confirmed/discovered to be cash (US$2.500, 000 Dollars). Hence it is against their modality of operation to cargo cash so they now deposited funds into bank through our sister bank in Port-Novo for a direct cash transfer to you through Western Union Money Transfer.
Based on the foregoing and to help conclude with the processing and final release of your inherited funds to you through Western Union Money Transfer. The amount you will receiving is $5,000 united State dollars per day. Could you please reconfirm the following information?
1 RECEIVER'S NAME. .............
2.COUNTRY..........................
3 CITY........ .................
4 ADDRESS.........................
5.TELEPHONE...................
6.SEX/AGE.......................
7. A Copy of Your ID Passport.....
8.TEST QUESTION............
9. ANSWER.........................
Contact the Western Union Money Transfer with this email (western.union11169@yahoo.com.hk)and don’t make any mistake because they are the one that will take absolutely care of this payment and remember that the amount you will be receiving is $5.000usd per day.
Contact them immediately you receive this email OK.
Contact Person Mr. Frank Newman
Email; western.union11169@yahoo.com.hk
Contact number +229-96-059-824
On receipt of these details from you the processing will be concluded while we advice you accordingly.
Expecting your reply,
Regards,
Barrister Rita Denis
Foreign Diplomatic Courier Service.
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