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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. )
- 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.
- 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.
- westuniontransbj@hotmail.fr (Hotmail, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Mrs Magreth Obi <tamfost1@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westuniontransbj@hotmail.fr
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 10:49:05 +0100
Subject: The first $5000.00 was sent today.
Hello friend,
The first $5000.00 was sent today.
We have concluded to effect your payment through western union
$5000.00 daily until the $2.7 MILLION USD is completely transferred to
you accordingly. Though, Mr John Basil has sent $5000.00 in your name
today so contact Western union Agent: Mr. Darlignton Martins
TEL:+229-979 498 83 or EMAIL::;::(westuniontransbj@hotmail.fr) Tell
him to give you the mtcn, sender name and question/answer to pick the
$5000.00.
NOTE; this payment has been instructed by the Ministry Of Finance you
must undergo due process once you get in contact to enable them
authenticate the legitimacy of your funds.
The IMF commission who set up this payment programme is now waiting
for confirmation so hasten up and give the agent a call to process
your funds at once. Please do not forget to update me as soon as you
receive this first payment.
Once again congratulations.
Thanks,
>From Mrs Magreth Obi
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Anti-fraud resources:
