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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. )
- 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 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.
- usembassy2011@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr James Knight." <westernunionbeninrepublic20@gmail.com>
Reply-To: usembassy2011@rocketmail.com
Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:06:09 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS
Greeting from U.S Embassy,
THIS MAIL IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL
ADDRESS
ATTENTION:
Please i want to inform you that your fund was brought to
my desk this morning because that the director of the western union here in
benin
republic said that they will divert your fund to the government treasuries
account just because that you refused to pay for the transfer fee
of your fund which is $98 but i told them to wait until i hear from you today
so that i will know the reason why you rejected such amount of money $2.5
millions which will change your life just because of $98.
I want your urgent response as soon as you receive this
email and tell me the reason why you have abandon your fund or if you don't need
it then i can change your name to another person so that their government will
not claim this money.
Please you should get back to me with this contact
information and i will tell you where you should send the $98 if you are really
intrested.
Your Full name .....................
Your country and
city........................
Your home address
...........................
Your private phone
number.........................
Your age ........sex........ occupation
Contact me through this email address usembassy2011@rocketmail.com
I will wait for your urgent response
Mr James Knight.
United States
Ambassador to the Republic of
Benin
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Anti-fraud resources:
