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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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "processing 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. )
- 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.
- revthomasanderson81@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.REV.THOMAS ANDERSON" <revsister.mercy@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: revthomasanderson81@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2017 17:55:03 -0400
Subject: THIS MESSAGE IS ONLY FOR THE OWNER OF THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS
From Mr.REV. THOMAS ANDERSON
SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE
FOREIGN PAYMENT OFFICER
TELL: +2348170847677
Attn Sir
How are you doing today and how is your health,I am writing to let you know that the board directors of
IMF met today and have resolved that your funds $4.5M compensation money must finally be release to
you but the only fee that is required of you is $97 only for processing fee of your funds release
documents and that will be all once you send the $97 processing fee.
your funds $4.5m will be release to you via western union and money gram $5,000 every day each
with any receiver names you are going to provide in your next e-mail with the mtcn for the $97
processing fee and the rest of the funds will be wire into your account while you receive some
by western union and money gram $5,000 every day.
FILL THIS INFORMATION BELOW AND SEND YOUR ID TO AVOID GOING TO WRONG PERSON
1. YOUR FULL NAME:
2. CELL PHONE NUMBER:
3. YOUR PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER:
4. YOUR HOME ADDRESS:
5. SEX/OCCUPATION:
6. AGE:
7. YOUR IDENTIFICATION ID:
RECEIVERS NAME:Thomas Anderson
country Nigeria
City:Lagos
Test QUESTION;--GOD
Answer:--ABLE
MCTN-----
AMOUNT--
Your urgent response will be highly appreciated for your own good.
Thank you and remain bless as i await you prompt reply,
Yours Faithfully,
From Mr.REV. THOMAS ANDERSON
SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE
FOREIGN PAYMENT OFFICER
TELL: +2348170847677
EMAIL: revthomasanderson81@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
