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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. )
- 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.
- officialoffice1@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- processes. contact officer: mr. rex o. cocco. email: officialoffice1@yahoo.com.hk / payee_official1@hotmail.com phone:+229 687 591 79 (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Chairman & COORDINATOR" <eonbankgroup1234@gmail.com>
Reply-To: officialoffice1@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 17:18:17 +0100
Subject: Winner of August Draw.........
ATTN: WINNER !!
"BENEFICIARY"
PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT YOUR NAME & EMAIL HAS BEEN EMERGED AS A WINNER ON
OUR WESTERN UNION (AUGUST) WESTERN UNION ONLINE BONUS DRAW ON OUR
E-PAYMENT SYSTEM ON OUR ON GOING BONUS RAFFLE DRAW AS ONE OF OUR ESTEEM
PATRONIZED CUSTOMERS.
NOW YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED AND APPROVED THE SUM OF $1.5M.,FOR YOUR
PATRONAGE AND YOU ARE NOW ADVISED TO CONTACT AND CALL THE OFFICER IN
CHARGE FOR YOUR FUND CLAIM AND RE-CONFIRM THE BELOW INFO FOR HIM PROMPT
PAYMENT.
RECEIVER'S NAME:..
RECEIVER'S ADDRESS:..
CITY:..
COUNTRY:..
PRIVATE PHONE/FAX #:..
OCCUPATION / POSITION:...
SCAN COPY OF ANY ID:..
NOTE,YOU MUST PAY THE SUM OF $105 FOR YOUR FUND PAYMENT TRANSFER FILE
REACTIVATION AND PROCESSING AND SOME OTHER DOCUMENTATIONS PROCESSES.
CONTACT OFFICER: MR. REX O. COCCO.
EMAIL: officialoffice1@yahoo.com.hk / payee_official1@hotmail.com
PHONE:+229 687 591 79
SINCERELY,
MS.MARIA SOLOMON.
CHIEF ORGANIZER/COORDINATOR.
WESTERN UNION WORLDWIDE.
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Anti-fraud resources:
