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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- david.morrison550@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: MONEY GRAM OFFICE <"www."@beach.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: MONEY GRAM OFFICE <david.morrison550@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2017 01:04:16 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Your first payment of $5000.00 has been sent today via money gram.
Good day Esteem Customer,
I'm money gram Agent Mr. DAVID MORRISON Your first payment of $5000.00 has been sent today via money gram. You are advice to Contact me with your full information to enable them give your Senders full information and below is your first three payments slip which have been made ready here and awaiting your confirmation.
Sender's Name: Ojadi
MTCN: 69231415
Sender's Name:Joiner
MTCN: 26046856
Sender's Name: Ambros
MTCN:#:94575379
For more information contact ME Mr. DAVID MORRISON, and am the money gram payment officer in charge of your fund payment here in West Africa(BENIN REPUBLIC) and my Telephone number: +229 99524728 and my personal email is david.morrison550@gmail.com respectively.
I'll keep sending you, your payments until your total fund of $1.5 million dollars is Completed
Thanks for your cooperation and Best Regards,
Mr. DAVID MORRISON
Money Gram Payment Officer.
Republic of Benin.
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Anti-fraud resources:
