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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "i will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- westernunionoffice2556@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR JAMES UGO" <jamesugo11@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: westernunionoffice2556@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 07:33:12 -1100
Subject: YOUR PAYMENT MTCN === 1882202586 AVILABLE TO PICK UP BY THE RECEIVER
YOUR PAYMENT MTCN === 1882202586 AVILABLE TO PICK UP BY THE RECEIVER
Hello my Dear friend how are doing I hope all is well with you ?
I just want to let you know that you can receive your payment just with $90 remember you have to send this fee today so that we can renew your payment File with this $92,
I want you to try your possible best and send the money today because that is only thing holding your payment here now. since you don't have $180 to send I have decided to help you out because I understand your feeling and your condition and again I want to informed you that after this fee no more payment ,
I want you to try your possible best and send the fee today so that you can start receiving your payment we supposed to released your first payment but we notice that your payment file is not yet renew
even as am writing to you now we have send your first payment but you can not pick it up because your payment file is not yet renewed so we decided to place it on hold until you send the needed fee before we can release it to you please do contact us with this email(westernunionoffice2556@yahoo.fr)
so my dear friend I will advice you to try your best and send the fee as soon as you receive this message to enable us release your payment of $1.2 million dollar remember what you will be receiving per day is $4000.00 until you all your payment
send the $92 with this Information Below
Receiver Name:... Mr SAM CHIKA
Location: ...Continuo,
Country: ...Benin Republic
Text Q: ....How much?
Answer:::::....$92
Mtcn::::
Amount:::::.$92
Remember send us your information such as your
Your Full Names: .........................
Your Contact address: ...............
Your Mobile: ..........................
Your Telephone number: ..........................
Money Transfer Control Number: 1882202586
SENDER'S NAME====== -------Azmir Mohameed
Question-=============In God
Test Answer==========We Trust
Amount===============$4000.00
you can call me with this number +229-98812427
as soon as you pick up this money
you can see is Available but you can not pick it up
Regards, MR Ben WILLIAMS
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