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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:
- "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. )
- "wut.stuoffice@globomail.com" (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: =?utf-8?Q?Jardin_du_ch=C3=A2teau_du_pin=2E?= <jardin.chateaudupin@sfr.fr>
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:38:09 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Payment New Instruction.
Dear Customer,
This is to inform you that your part two million five hundred thousand us dollar will be send to you via western union money transfer. The total amount mentioned above is with western union outlet and they will send the fund via western union to you. Note they will be sending $6750 twice every day to you. Therefore i want you to email Richard Anderson the western union supervisor and ask him to give you the test question and answer, MTCN 5098080591 if you need to pick up the first $6750 today also know that you will be require to send only $99 to the WUT for your payment activation payout uploadnem to the W.U.W.S.
Call him at.+229 96892185 and email him now to enable him upload your first payment today E-mail him only at: ( wut.stuoffice@globomail.com ) now and ask him to give you the text question and answer and every other information you need to pick up your $6750 today. Here is what he may require from you.Your full name: Your address: Your direct cell phone:
We wish you good luck
Jardin du Château
Signed
Ambassador.
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