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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. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- "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.
- 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: Hon Dr william sara <officefilfil@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: westernumtransfer011@msn.com
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 02:41:05 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: YOUR WESTERN UNION PAYMENT MTCN 2712547390
My Dearest Friend,
I have sent out the payment as i told you, My working partner has helped me to sent out your first payment of $5000.Usd.Here is the western union information; SENDERSNAME...
EZENWA CHIKA MTCN 2712547390 .It is available for you to pick up,you can track with www.westernunion.com.
I told the office of western union to keep sending your $5000.Usd daily untill the payment of $1.5 Million Dollars is completed. Please if there is any problem you contact the western union Office and their informations is below:
ECO BANK
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
NO.421 ST PETER & PAUL ROAD,
COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC.
CONTACT PERSON:DR EDWARD VINCENT
TEL: +229-9862 8548
EMAIL: (westernumoneytransfer011@msn.com)
But my working partner complain to me that the money i give to her as transfer charges does not be able to pay off the transfer fee complete. Therefore you will balance them the sum of $155usd so that they will be able release your first payment to you.
Here is the information you will send to them for more confirmation.
Beneficiarey name-------
Address-----------------
Country----------------
Tel phone--------------
Occupation---------
Picture----------- Sex-----Age----
Thanks and take good care of yourself
Best Regards
Hon Dr william sara
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