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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. )
- "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. )
- 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: "David Lucas" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <royal@researchmysteryshopper.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2014 08:39:42 -0800
Subject: Job Opening
Hello,
How are you doing today and thanks for your efforts so far. I do appreciate it...You have been accepted as our Mystery shopper/Survey Agent. You will be evaluating MONEY GRAM SERVICES and WAL-MART STORES in your Neighborhood… Please remember that you are to act Cool, Calm and Confident through out the period in which you will be carrying out the survey. In order not to arouse any suspicion. We will furnish you with transfer details which you will send Funds to via Western Union. Also you will be shopping at Wal-Mart stores close by. After which you will write a report and send back to us via Email using the following pointers:
1) How long it took you to get services.
2) Ambiance/Outlook of the Shop/Outlet
3) Smartness of the attendant
4) Customer service professionalism
5) Reaction of personnel under pressure
6) Information that you think would be helpful
7) Your comments and impressions.
Payments will be mailed out to you which you will cash and expend in carrying out all that will be required of you including your compensation of $200 for every assignment. All Other Instructions will be sent out to you as soon as Evaluation commences.
Kindly email us back with the Locations of Western Union outlets and Wal- Mart Stores Near you for our own review and we later email you back if they are the stores you going to evaluate. Please reply this Email with the locations requested and below application form filled as soon as possible and ask questions on Instructions not Understood.
Kindly get back to me with the following information:
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APPLICATION FORM
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First Name
Last Name
Physical Address :
City :
State :
Zip Code :
Mobile phone # :
Home phone # :
Alternative email address :
Thanks so i can look into your area for your location for your assignment and payment for your firstly assignment can be issued and sent out to you...thank much for your trustworthiness and honesty and i am still waiting for your response now.!
Hiring Manager
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Anti-fraud resources:
