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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:
- "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. )
- "tax clearance" (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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- "tax clearance" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
- 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.David Eze" <"www."@major.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr.David Eze" <uw97759@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2017 07:38:29 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention Beneficary,
(WESTERN UNION UNDER ECO BANK PLC)
has finalize all the necessary arrangement
and your fund ($2.7USD)has been approve by the
border
directors of ECO Bank,you
will be receiving $5000 per day. Furthermore our
attorney
will go to the inland
revenue tax office to obtain a letter of
administration tax
clearance approval it will cost only $150
on your behalf from high Court. The most important
requirement that we need from
you is your full current information well noted and
understood.
Your name_____
Your country____
Your address_____
Your Occupation___
You’re Age___ / sex__
Your occupation Direct phone number__
http://www.wu.com/content/
wucom/Countries/en_BJ/tra
ck-
transfer-result.html?t
Transaction Status=AVAILABLE & progress Indicator =3&stat
usMessag
e=Your%20money%20transfer%27s%20ready%20to%20be%
20picked%20up%20at%2
0any%20Western%20Union%20agent%20location)
MTCN:(493-659-7086) SENDERS
FIRST NAME:Paul
SECONDNAME:Obiorah
TEST :WHEN
ANS …TODAY
MTCN(493-659-7086)
Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer,
Mr.David Eze (Transfer Manager)
TEL: +229 9953 6001
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Anti-fraud resources:
