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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- 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.
- www_westernuion@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: LOUIS MACK <hhhhhyyyy@yahoo.cn>
Reply-To: LOUIS MACK <www_westernuion@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 17:53:01 +0800 (CST)
Subject: RE:SCAM VICTIM COMPENSATION
>Attention to you personally:
>
>We hereby apologies for the past delay on receiving your compensation approve fund, and recent development by (IMF) & Ministry of finance It was Today strongly approved to transfer your total $1.7m fund via our service Western Union as one of SCAM VICTIMS.
>
>Please
provide to Mr Joe Raymond Western Union managing Director with the
following details listed below, so that your fund will be remitted to
you through Western Union on daily bases Immediately.
>
>1. Name:______
>2. Address________
>3. Country:______
>4. Phone Number____
>5. Occupation:_______
>6. Sex:_______________
>7. Age_________________
>
>Note you have to Call Mr Joe Raymond on phone Once you sent him your receiver's details And you are only to pay $175 dollar for signing & re-confirmation of your approve
certificate Deposited in their office.
>
>send the $175USD with below information:
>Receiver's name......Tikus Walker
>Country.....................India
>City...........................New Delhi
>Amount.....................$175USD
>M.T.C.N.........
>Sender's Name...........
>
>Contact person: Joe Raymond
>Tel: Phone +919971366905
>E-mail: www_westernuion@yahoo.com
>
>Direct line to call For your first pick up details +919971366905
>
>As soon as these details are received by him today, your fund will be transferred to you in 1hour time Immediately.
>
>Thanks.
>Louis Mack.
>FOREIGN OPERATION MANAGER
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