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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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- westernu399@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MR PETER MOORE <hr@mcdegypt.com>
Reply-To: <westernu399@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2015 19:38:17 +0100
Subject: Attention From western union office benin repulice
Attention Dear.
We the western Union W/U are here to informed you that your
payment of
$5000 dollars have been paid online this morning and we are
sending
you the information now so that you will pick your fund, but
we are to
informed you that you will send us the sum of $75.00 dollars
for the cost
of the transfer before you will be able to pick up yours
payment.
Here below is your payment of 5000 dollars, you are free to
track and
see that your payment has been made. www.westernunion.com.
MTCN:3984616619
sender: Tanya Horton
Amount:$5,000.00
Question: code
Answer: 222
Please as I told you have to send us the sum of $75 dollars
for the
cost of the transfer (TRANSFER CHARGE) and immediately you
send this
fee $75 dollars do call me and then +22968499570 so that we
will
released your payment immediately for you so that you will
pick it as
well as you make the peyment. And contact email(westernu399@yahoo.com.hk)
Here are the information you are to use and send the fee $75
dollars via western union or Money
Gram.
RECEIVER NAME-- ALEXANDER MMOCHAL
COUNTRY---BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY----COTONOU
QUESTION--WHEN
ANSWER--TODAY
MTCN---
SENDER NAME--
Thanks we are waiting to hear from you by mail or phone
call, have a
nice day with your family
Sincerely
MR PETER MOORE
+22968499570.
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