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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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "cotonou" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: Western Union Pay-out Gold card <deskofficiall@sify.com>
Reply-To: info-westernuniongoldcard01@yandex.com
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:08:13 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Should we pay Mrs. Juliet Williams??? Rest in peace that's all i wish you
Dear Sir ,
Please
note that we provide a 100% guarantee receipt of your transfer because
we have perfectly carried out the process. Please note that Mrs. Juliet
Williams came to our office this morning and bring this picture
attchement that i send to you that you are dead that the picture is your
burial ceremony picture that they are here with the $36 that you told
them about this fund, Please let us know if this is turth. We are only
happy if you are happy in same case we know how much it means to you and
understand the problem you have encounter in
the whole process.
There
is no additional cost, the only fee we are charging you is $36 prior to
delivery, we will be able to deliver your transfer as soon as the service
fee is paid and it will arrive faster .Once again we are so sure of you
receiving your transfer to your designated without any further delay,
extra fee or any. Send the fee by western union or money gram with the
below information:
RECEIVER NAME... Ogechukwu Omokwe
COUNTRY... BENIN.
CITY... COTONOU .Add : NO 11 Missebo mtk Cotonou -Benin.
TEXT QUESTION... what colure TEXT ANSWER... Yellow
Amount $36.
And let us know my conformation the MTCN ?
Thank you as I wait your respond.
Ganesh Amoorthy.
Contact us at :
Western Union BENIN - COTONOU
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