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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. )
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- 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 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.
- western.u47@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: WESTERN UNION <lazzy@t-online.hu>
Reply-To: western.u47@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2017 00:00:07 +0200
Subject: Dear Customer. good day
WELCOME TO WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER URGENT
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
Welcome to Western Union®Send Money Worldwide
www.westernunion.com
Dear Customer. good day
This is to inform you that the America Embassy here in benin in
conjunction with Global Economic Recovery programs (GERP) USA and
Economic Community of West-African States has instructed to transfer
the sum of $1,500,000.00( ONE Million FIVE hundred ) compensating all
the SCAM VICTIMS and your email was found as one of the THREE VICTIMS
TO COMPENSATE , By America security leading team and America
representative officers so for your information the maximum amount you
will be receiving starting from today is $5000 USD in Seven(7)
different payments in a day till your total funds of $1,500,000.00 is
complete transferred to you and we have been instructed to send you
the first payment of $5000 USD today through our payment system.
You are to contact Western Union for your payment of USD$1,500.000.00
USD with the below information’s.
FULL NAME
CONTACT ADDRESS
DIRECT PHONE/CELL NUMBER for easy communication)
Send the above listed information’s to the Fund Verification
Department Office on the information below:
Contact Person: Mr. peter campbell ..............email us here
:western.u47@yahoo.com
PHONE :+(406) 272-2947
As soon as this information is received and you have complied with the
requirements of payment of the western union charges your payment will
be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from
The Western Union Transferring Bank.While emailing kindly use
reference number 859.560.332 for our mutual convenience.I will advise
that you to email Mr. mark henry on receipt of this mail to facilitate
your transfer.
Best Regards
Mrs.Abella Édith
Western Union Money Transfer®
Western Union® welcoming you to our World
Send and Receive Money Worldwide.
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