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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. )
- "million 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)
- 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.
- westernpayc@pisem.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Kevin Jerry" <Jerryq@cello.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr.Kevin Jerry" <westernpayc@pisem.net>
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 2015 23:12:00 +0900 (JST)
Subject: WESTERN UNION TRANSFERRING PAYMENT HEAD OFFICE
WESTERN UNION TRANSFERRING PAYMENT HEAD OFFICE
741 RUE DES FRANCISCANS ADIDOGOME
BENIN REPUBLIC / LOME BROADE
P.O Box 9263
Email:: westernpayc@pisem.net
THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT THE WESTERN UNION MANAGEMENT IS NOT HAPPY WITH YOU FOR YOUR INABILITY TO CONTACT US SINCE THE LAST TIME WE SENT YOU AN EMAIL IN REGARDS TO YOUR FUND TRANSFER WORTH OF 4.700.000.00 MILLION DOLLARS. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME WE ARE REACHING YOU AND WOULD PROBABLY BE THE LAST IF YOU FAIL TO CONTACT US. PERHAPS WE SHOULD DEPOSIT YOUR FUND INTO STATE TREASURY SINCE YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY INDISPOSED TO CLAIM IT OR PROBABLY PREOCCUPIED WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT IS TAKING MUCH OF YOUR TIME. THE UN/WORLD BANK RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCREENING OF THIS FUND INSTRUCTED THE STATE CONFISCATE THE FUND SHOULD THE BENEFICIARY FAIL TO MAKE CONTACT.
CONTACT WESTERN UNION OFFICE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF MR. KEVIN JERRY FOR YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER WHICH YOU WILL USE TO PICK UP YOUR FIRST PAYMENT OF 4,500.00 USD TODAY. HERE IS THE CONTACT INFO:
EMAIL - (westernpayc@pisem.net)
PHONE NO - +229-68037529
ENDEAVOR TO EMAIL US THE BELLOW INFORMATION FOR VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION AND TO ENABLE US FACILITATE THE IMMEDIATE PROCESSING OF YOUR FUND TRANSFER WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY.
Your Receiver Name--------------
Your Country--------------------
Your City-----------------------
Your Tell-----------------------
Your Test Question--------------
Your Answer---------------------
Your Age/Sex--------------------
Your Id-------------------------
>From Western Union Money
Transfer Head Office Benin Republic
Manager Mr.Kevin Jerry
Phone: +229-680-375-29
EMAIL TO REPLY (westernpayc@pisem.net)
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