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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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "westeruniondpartment02@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.
- 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: Urgent From Western Union <union.western34@yahoo.com.ph>
Reply-To: westeruniondpartment02@w.cn
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:17:20 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: =?utf-8?B?V0hBVCBJUyBIT0xESU5HIFlPVSBJTiBTRU5ESU5HIFRIRSAkNzU/IERPTg==?=
=?utf-8?B?4oCZVCBNSVNTIFRISVMgR1JFQVQgT1BQT1JUVU5JVFk=?=
Attention: Beneficiary. How are you doing today with your family? Well what is still holding you in sending the required $75 only that you have been asked to send for immediate releasing of your first payment of $2000, you should go and send the required $75 immediately together with your receiving information such as your full name and address, age and direct phone number, so that we don’t make any mistake in transferring your $2000 that we have already sent to you. Send the $75 through western union with this below information stated. Receiver:::::::Henry  Uzoh
Country:::::::::Benin Republic
City::::::::::Cotonou
Question::::::::How Long?
Answer::::::::SoonAmount:::::::$75
Sender'Name::::::::
MTCN::::::::::::::: I am waiting for the $75 now for immediate release of your $2000. Thanks Mr. Anthony Robert
Direct Tele: +229-98270398
Contact Email: westeruniondpartment02@w.cn
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