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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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- 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.
- info.westernunion282@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Dan Ike <speed.danilo@alice.it>
Reply-To: info.westernunion282@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2014 11:10:31 +0100 (CET)
Subject: Atten
To this effect, the appropriate authorities (Economic Community of
West African States and America Governments) has decided
not to deliver bank draft to foreign clients from African anymore due
to a lot of complains that beneficiaries are not cashing their money
after fees has been paid.
Our UBA bank wants you to understand that everything is in order,
(Ecowas High Court West Africa) instructed us to pay you via w/u money
transfer and total of your wining fund is $4,5m only.
To enable us start the transfer, please include copy of
your identity for proper reprogramming for the transfer straight to
your names to enable you has access to pick you firsr $5000 immediately
you receive it.this is what we need from you such as
Receiver's name:.....
City:..............
Country:.............
Phone number:................
Id copy..............
Your fund will transfer to you through Western Union
and our transfer charge will cost you sum of $198.00 only.
THANKS FOR YOU’RE CO-OPERATION:
Mr Dan Ike
PHONE NO:+229 98492837
E-MAIL:(info.westernunion282@gmail.com)
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Anti-fraud resources:
