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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. )
- "million united states dollars" (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)
- "million united state dollars" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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: "Mrs.Teresa Collins" <usdwininer@cantv.net>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Teresa Collins" <office_westernunio@qq.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 00:33:05 +0900 (JST)
Subject: RE.MONEY TRANSFER OFFICE
There is an issue involving ( $2.5 Million united state dollars ) which was called to to the knowledge of our Bank ( AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK PLC ) from the Federal Ministry OF Finance Benin concerning your outstanding payment of ( $2.5 Million United States Dollars ) The fund has been released and forwarded to our Western Union Transfer department and an instruction was passed to us directly from the Federal Ministry Of Finance new boss (Dr. Ali Urma) we were asked to start sending your fund install-mentally at the rate of $10,000 per day through our Western Union transfer. This means that you will be receiving $5,000 twice per a day in two different MTCN until your total ( $2.5 Million united state dollars ) is completely transferred to you.
Today, our bank has effected some process of your first payment of $5000 through Western Union now you have to Contact us immediately with the information requested below so that we will know where to send your first transfer to and then release your first payment MTCN to you, Right now we are only waiting for your email or call so that you will start receiving your funds with out any further delay, Here are the details required from you, send it to the below email:
Contact Person: James Mark
Tel; +229-6837-6810
Your Receiver Name.........(Where you want us to send the transfer)
Private Telephone;........................
Country.............................
Text Question...................
Answer.............................
We await your update with the above information's so that we will start transferring your funds to you.
Yours in Service.
Mrs.Teresa Collins
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