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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. )
- 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.
- 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.
- wumtagent04@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: WUT Management Nigeria. <poczta.sylogic.pl>
Reply-To: <wumtagent04@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:47:27 +0100
Subject: Western Union® Payment Notification.
Western Union®
Dear Customer.
There is an issue with the WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER in the amount of $5,000.000 USD directed in credited to file KTU/9023118308 at the owner of this email address. The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for your compensation a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.
Re-confirm some more information in order to complete this transfer.
FULL NAME:
ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
AGE:
Please email via Western Union Solicitors Fund Verification Department:
Name: Anthony Diobu.
Tel: +234 7030690555
E-mail: wumtagent04@yahoo.com
As soon as this information is verified and the KTU/9023118308 activation charge $125.00 payable to IMF, the remaining 3 number's of the 10 digit control number of the first payment of your US$5,000.00 sent through Western Union Money Transfer will be release to enable you pick it from any western union office around you.
Here are few of the payment details:
Sender Name : Anita Clary
MTCN No: 2450250???
Amount: USD$5,000.00
Text Q.: 1st ?
Text A: Released.
The 10 digit control number will be sent to you as soon as your credited file KTU/9023118308 charge is paid and being activated. Contact our agent above for further details.
DISPATCHED THIS DAY.
Sincerely,
WUT Management Nigeria.
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