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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:
- "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. )
- ",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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a 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. Charles Dowling" <"www."@mint.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Mr. Charles Dowling" <moneygramofficebenin12@zoho.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2017 02:29:44 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Payment Notification
Payment Notification
This message is from Money Gram Transfer Head Office. The U.S Department Of Treasury and United Nation has ordered us to release all outstanding payment. You will receive USD$5,500,000.00 which is your Inheritance and Winning due payment. We will be releasing the money to you parts by parts which mean you will be receiving $5000.00 daily. Once you receive this message, forward your current address as requested below to enable us link the payment to Money Gram Office in your location where you will be getting your $5000 daily
Your Full name_____________
Country______________
Occupation______________
Address________________
Phone number__________
Age_______________
Sex_____________
Once you receive this message and forward your current address as requested above, we will start releasing $5000.00 to you daily until you receive all your
USD$5,500,000.00. Forward your address to us by text message to phone numbers stated below
Waiting to hear from you
Mr. Charles Brown
Payment Director
Tel: +229-99659510
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