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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. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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 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.
- westernunionusamail@yahoo.co.jp (Yahoo, Japan; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union Money Transfer®" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunionusamail@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2012 17:59:32 -0700
Subject: Your Western Union Compensation Funds of US$2,500.000.00 Alert 9th of August 2012
How are you today?
I write to inform you that we have already sent you US$5000.00 through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment of US$2,500.000.00 via western union by this government.
I called to give you the information through phone as internet hackers were many but i couldn’t reach you yesterday even this morning.So,I decided to email you the MTCN and sender’s name so that you can pick up this US$5000.00 to enable us send another US$5000.00 by tomorrow as you know we will be sending you only US$5000.00 per day.
Please pick up this information and go to any western union outlet in your country to pick up the US$5000.00 and email me back so as to send you another payment tomorrow.
Mr Lyd Brown
Manager Western Union, Nigeria
Email: westernunionusamail@yahoo.co.jp
Email Mr. Lyd Brown once you have picked up this US$5000.00 Here is the western union information to pick up the your first Payment batch of S$5000.00
MTCN: 977-477-0040
Sender’s Name: Mr William Phillips
Test Question: Honest
Test Answer: Trust
Amount: $5000.00USD
I am waiting for your response once you have picked it up your first batch Payment.
Thanks
Mr Kunle Clive
Director, Compensation Dept
Lagos Nigeria
Western Union Money Transfer®
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Anti-fraud resources:
