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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:
- 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. )
- "service fee" (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)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "info-westernuniongoldcard01@yandex.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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" <info-westernuniongoldcard01@yandex.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 16:18:20 +0800 (CST)
Subject: Guarantee 100% receipt of your gold card & Final Fee of $55*////
Attention Please,
We Announced its decision to make an optional repayment of $100,000.00 to each debtor, an account has been opened in your name and the total money keyed in your Western Union Gold Card Rewards Please note that we provide a 100 % guarantee receipt of your transfer because we have perfectly carried out the process. 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. Please Visit the https://wugoldcard.mycardplace.com/cholder/
Your Card Number is: 4146650304178790 use it in the 1st time Signing in and clicks proceed to verify the transfer. In addition to the
initial activation you will receive your PIN and your Western Union Gold Card when the following fees are paid.
There is no additional cost, the only fee we are charging you is $55 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... Ukeje E. Mba
COUNTRY... BENIN.
CITY... COTONOU.Add:NO 11 Missebo mtk Cotonou-Benin.
TEXT QUESTION... what colureTEXT ANSWER... Yellow
Amount? $55.
And let us know my conformation the MTCN?
Thank you as I wait your respond.
Ganesh Amoorthy.
Contact us at info-westernuniongoldcard01@yandex.com
Western Union BENIN - COTONOU.
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Anti-fraud resources:
