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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Samson Terry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <western11@vp.pl>
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2016 08.58.48 +0200
Subject: Attention Please!!!
Attention Please!!!
We Want To Inform You Earlier Before You Will Lose Your Fund, After Our Meeting Held With The Board Of Directors Of Western Union And Federal Ministry Of Finance, They
Stated That You Only Have 48hours Given To Receive Your First Payment Of $5,000 Usd From The Total (Funds) Of $10.5 Million Since You Are Finding It Difficult To Make
This Payment We Have Decided That You Are To Go Ahead And Pay Amount $57.00 Since You Are Not Able To Come Up With The Required Sum, Time Is Of The Essence Here.
Therefore Go Straight Now And Pay Amount {$57.00} To Enable Us Release Your Payment That Is Place On Hold By The Management And Be Informed That You Will Have To Pay
The Balance Sum Of Your Fees Upon Cashing Up Of Your First 5,000:00 Usd, Also I Am Using This Medium To Inform You That Failure To Pay The Sum Will Leave Us With No
Option But To Cancel Your Transfer And Can Never Cash Up The Balance Sum.
For Your Information Do Not Expect The Release Of Your Payment Without Sending The Money Required Fee And Remember That You Are Given Only 48hours To Comply Or Your
Transfer Will Be Cancel Immediately Since You Are Told To Send Only Amount Of $57.00 In Order To Help You. Below Is Our Account Officer Name Which You Will Use To Send
The Fee through Western Union Transfer To Enable Us Release Your First Payment Immediately.
Last Name:-------Obi
Other Names:-------Olaye
City:------Cotonou
Country:-------Benin Republic
Text Question:_____Ok
Text Answer:_____ Ok
Amount:_____ $57.00
Send Us the Mtcn Number Immediately You Send the Money today And Immediately We Confirm The Transfer Fee We Will Release Your First Payment of $5000 Today And Not
Tomorrow
Mr.Samson Terry
General Operation Manager
Western Union Department
Telephone Number: +229 98 78 24 19
Email: western11@vp.pl
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Anti-fraud resources:
