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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. )
- "hundred thousand 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.
- 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.
- unitedbank.online@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Compensation Central office" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unitedbank.online@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2016 14:27:17 +0100
Subject: WESTERN UNION AWARD NOTIFICATION
WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION AWARD CENTER,
You have been awarded a sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars/ US$1.500,000,00 by the Western Union 2015-2016
Board Award Group, This award was selected through automated Internet
system drawn randomly across the global, Please Your are expected to comply with the following details for your claims.
Your full name_________________
Your address___________________
Your country___________________
Your age_______________________
Your Sex_______________________
Your occupation________________
Your Phone number_____________
Make sure you do not make any mistake with your information to avoid any wrong Claim. Call the Direct Manager with below Number for more details. Or Reply us as Instructed and use this code below as your subject...(WU/AWD221) For Verification. Call Mr Frank Peter The award department Manager for more details.
Contact Person::: Director Frank Peter.
Office E-mail::<western_unb@outlook.com> or
E-mail::<unitedbank.online@rediffmail.com>
Mobile:+229 9848-3350,/ +229 9848-3349
Please make sure you are the only person accessing your email for security reason.
Congratulation From All Of Our Dear Staffs
Best Regards
DIR.MRS KATIE ALLEN
FINANCIAL SECRETARY BOARD AWARD DEPARTMENT .
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Anti-fraud resources:
