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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 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.
- +447031957601 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union Inc." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westmed.transfer@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2013 09:21:12 +0100
Subject: Money Sent.Mtcn For $10k 673-897-0910
Contact MR GREG ALOID MORRISON For Your 10k Mtcn Via Western Union
Hello,
Message was sent from MR GREG ALOID MORRISON The New Wumt Manager of Operation.
We happily announce to you the PAYMENT RELEASE FILE (#147) held In SEPT 22ND
2013
TK :#1475
SRL: *70709
This is to officially inform you that Your Wining Funds Is Ready To be Paid Via
Western Union
Kindly Contact us as soon as you receive this email For Your Mtcn Control Number
For 10k$
for information on how you will be paid.
We look forward to serving you better.
Best regards,
NAME: MR GREG ALOID MORRISON
Western Union Payments
FORIGN OPERATION MANAGER
WESTERN UNION OFFICE LAGOS NIGERIA
PHONE:+447-03195-7601
PHONE:+447-03193-3975
PHONE:+44702 408 1650
PHONE:+447-077075-680
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Anti-fraud resources:
