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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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Patt Joyce Butler" <mrspatjoybutler@ups.ng.org>
Reply-To: mrspattjoycebutler250@yahoo.es
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 17:26:33 +0000
Subject: FINAL NOTIFICATION ABOUT YOUR PACKAGE
--
In regard to your bank draft package with u.p.s
I received an email alert from ups in regard to your package which have been
with them for two weeks now and the international shipping agent in charge
planned to return your package to the federal ministry of finance of Nigeria.
The total amount in your bank draft contain is $8.5 million usd and this
include interest rate up till date.the bank draft was programmed to have
access globally which you can make withdraw or transaction in any part of the
world.
It seems you don't want to show any seriousness towards the shipment of your
package that why he want to return it and he need permission from me first
before he will return the package. I order him to stop and i also assure him
that i will make sure the charge fee required is enable the shipment fee which
is $175 will be paid and this will be the last fee required from you.
In regard
to your bank draft package which worth $8.5 million usd i will help you and
make sure you receive it and my investigation shows you have spent a lot
recently in regard to this package and this will be the last fee.
Remember you have spent a lot towards this package once the charge fee
required now is paid shipment will commence and you will recover all you have
spent recently. The charge fee required now is not much so you will be able to
afford the last fee needed which is $175 only my advice to you is to go ahead
and send the charge fee via western union. The western union information below
belong to olaiya emeka the branch manager of ups international shipping
department Nigeria.
This is the info to send the $175 as below
Receiver name: Anujom Amarachi
Location: Lagos-Nigeria
Text question: What For
Answer: For Good
Amount $175
Mtcn#
Sender's Adress#
Sender's name#
Your shipment will commence once the charge fee is paid today. And as soon as
you made the payment get back to me with the sender name???? Mtcn
number???Full sender address used:???Text question???Answer???? Await your
reply and remember shipment will commence today and it will take only 24 hours
to get the package shipped to you.
Have a wonderful day
Best regards,
Mrs. Patt Joyce butler
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