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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. )
- "00,000.00" (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.
- 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: Western Union <info@wu.com>
Reply-To: wumtonline1@live.com
Date: Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:19:41 +0200
Subject: Western Union 2012 Lucky =?UTF-8?Q?Draws=E2=80=8F?=
--
Welcome To Western Union Office
We wish to inform you that the UNITED NATIONS have donated the sum of
$300,000.00 USD through our Western Union Money Transfer service to you for
the upkeep of people round the world and you fall to be one of the lucky
beneficiaries. We have been instructed to end you the total sum of
$300,000.00 (USD) through our Western Union Money Transfer service.
Contact us with your Name, address and Telephone Number so as to enable us
process your payment of $300,000.00 USD and provide you with the M.T.C.N
numbers to enable you claim your Money in any of our Western Union Money
Transfer Office in your Country.
Reply through this E-mail Address ( wumtonline1@live.com )
Regards
Mr. Pastor Timothy Amiamiye
Western Union Transfer Manager
wumtonline1@live.com
Tel: +2348078386226
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Anti-fraud resources:
