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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. )
- "fund beneficiary" (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)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "BANK OF GHANA" <notification@bog.gov.gh>
Reply-To: albertmensah2012@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 06:01:04 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: FROM BANK OF GHANA
ATTENTION: FUND BENEFICIARY
PLEASE WE WANT TO KNOW IF YOU ARE THE ONE THAT SEND THIS PERSON(HERB
WAGNER) TO CLEAR YOUR OUT STANDING BILL THAT HOLDING YOUR FUND IN OUR
CUSTODY AND ORDER HIM TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT ON YOUR BEHALF?
WE ARE ABOUT TO TRANSFER YOUR APPROVED FUND (3.5 MILLION) TO HIM SO WE
NEED A CONFIRMATION FROM YOU TO AVOID ANY MISDIRECTION OF YOUR FUND.
THEREFORE, CONFIRM TO US URGENTLY BEFORE WE CAN GO AHEAD TO TRANSFER YOUR
FUND TO HIM.
THIS IS THE PAYMENT INFORMATION HE SEND TO US THROUGH WESTERN UNION TO
CLEAR YOUR OUT STANDING BILL.
Sender Name:- Herb Wagner
receiver name : LINDA FUSO
Sender City:- Lauderhill
Sender State:- Florida
Sender Country:- USA
MTCN:- 7425250897
Amount:- $4,500
Test Question:-transfer
Answer:- Fund
WE ARE WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPOND TO THIS. THANKS.
MR.ALBERT MENSAH.
FUND TRANSFER DEPARTMENT BANK OF GHANA
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Anti-fraud resources:
