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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. )
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: ATM PAYMENT <okojojom@gmail.com>
Reply-To: ATM PAYMENT <ubabank393@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2015 19:19:01 +0900 (JST)
Subject: URGENT CONTACT FOR YOUR WINNING SUM OF (US$9.5M)
Attention E-Mail Owner
We write in acknowledgment of order from (IMF) regarding to the delivery of your deposited Atm Visa Card here in our office by International Monetary Fund.(I.M.F). in result of Compensation of scam victims from International lottery Companies which your email was selected from your country's location. Meanwhile your Atm Visa Card was registered under our security monitoring protection unit for security purposes as requested from (I.M.F), As matter of fact, all essential arrangement has been made for safe delivery of your Atm Visa Card in tune of $9.5 Million USD to your address which you are yet to provide to us before shipment.Note: you will pay a little amount of $137 only for Company security monitoring /office keeping fee charges before the delivery of your package will take place by our Delivery Agent today or tomorrow depending on how early you make the payment,
Therefore, you are advised to send your home delivery address which will register with our delivery Agent who will make the shipment to your country and your address.
SEND YOUR DELIVERY ADDRESS AS LISTED BELOW IN DOWN SPACE.
YOUR FULL NAME::::::
HOME ADDRESS:::::::::
COUNTRY:::::::::
MOBILE PHONE:::::::::::
OFFICE:::::::::::::::::::::
COPY OF YOUR ID :::::::::
DATE OF DELIVERY AND TIME::::
FEDEX SECURITY FEE:::::$137 USD .
FILE THE INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY AND RETURN BACK TO US SO THAT WE SHALL FILE THE DELIVERY FORM AND GET BACK TO YOU FOR THE SHIPMENT WITHIN 48 HOURS. ALSO USE FAST MEANS OF PAYMENT TO SEND THE MENTIONED $137 USD, WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM IS ALLOW FOR QUICK DELIVERY.
Thank you.
We await your urgent reply.Yours faithfully,
MR.DANIEL KUKU.
TEL +229 9900 7584
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Anti-fraud resources:
