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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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "w.unionplc@live.fr" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
- westernunion02290@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Mr Mike Eric <ibic@jamer.net>
Reply-To: westernunion02290@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2017 17:07:06 -0800
Subject: CONTACT Western Union.
--
 Attention My Dear Friend,
Â
now we have arranged your payment of ($4.7 millions) One Million Seven
undred
thousand united state dollars in atm payment card to be sentto you
through
western union money transfer payment:
Â
Your payment will sending to you by western union, the amount you will
receive
per day is $6000 The minister trust funds of Benin Republic will send
you
the
currently standards track details you need to pick up your ($6000)
payment
by
western union, you will receive every day till you receive the
$4.7millions
united state dollars, now no need to send you this atm card because you
can
not be able to withdraw the atm card due to the atm master card contain
large money
on it.
The director administrtor trust funds have already signed your payment,
are
free to comply with wemaco payment office on this email: financial. wes.
Â
 this E mail westernunion02290@gmail.com
kindly contact the below person who is
in position to release your payment by western union per $6000 a day. Mr
Frank Jayed Â
department Financial Bank Benin,
Mobile: ( +229-99690453 )
E-mail: w.unionplc@live.fr
The financial western union payment canter has been mandated to issue
out
your
payment and you have to stop any further communication with any other
person(s)
or office(s) to avoid any hitches in receiving your payment. Note that
the
administrator payment need this details from you to process your
payment:
Â
Receiver name-----
Country-----
City-----------
Tel------------
Test question-------
Answer---------
Â
Comply now because as soon as you sent this required details to Mr Frank
Jayed
Frank he will start sending your payment by western union Thanks and
Remain
Blessed.
Secretary Peter E.Diuff
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Anti-fraud resources:
