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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. )
- "tax fee" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "cotonou" (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: "PAYMENT" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <payment_office034@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 09:49:41 -0500
Subject: spide PAYMENT
Western Union Office
Zongo -Cotonou
Benin Republic.
Telephone number:(+229) 680 69456
Attention,
How are you and your family? i hope fine.I receive your mail and your informations is noted.Your payment is ready.
I want to open up to you that your payment is ready but you must send the sum of $95 for the Transfer/Tax fee.
Below informations will show you the availability of your payment.
Paster/insert our western union payment check/tracking website :
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderstatus.asp?country=global
Put the MTCN (210 757 0018) Put the sender's first name (SAM) and the last name (ATU) then click check status, you will confirm that your $5000 is available to pick up but you must send the sum of $95 before you can have access to your payment in your country.
I advise you to use the below informatiosn to send the $95 to enable you have access on your payment.
Receiver's name: KEN UDO
Country: Republic of Benin
City: Cotonou
Text Question:In God
Answer: I trust
MTCN:
Sender's informations:
Be advice that after this very $95, therefore will be none payment from you again than your daily confirming payment of $5,000 till the
whole ($300,000.00 USD) is completed.
My word and order to the western union Manager Director is that you should pay only bet $95 no more no less.Therefore if anybody ask you for any additional payment after you paying $95, kindly report to me because the person has cross line of my orders.
Mr.Ben Taka
Western Union Paying Manager
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Anti-fraud resources:
