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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. )
- ",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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- incc2093@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Dr Eric Goodman" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <officemail655@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2018 18:21:35 -0700
Subject: Very urgent your first payment for 5000.00 USD sent today.
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS TRANSFER / AUDIT UNIT)
UNITED NATIONS REGIONAL FINANCIAL CLEARING HOUSE
UNITED KINGDOM
Our Ref: CPWD/UN/2018.
APPROVED COMPENSATION PAYMENT AWARD OF USD5,500,000.00 Dollars
We found your email/name in our list and that is why we are contacting you, This have been agreed upon and have been signed Therefore, we are happy to inform you that an arrangement has perfectly been concluded to effect your payment as soon as possible in our bid to be transparent.
However, it is our pleasure to inform you that we have already sent you USD 5000.00 United State Dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of USD5.5M via western union by the Federal Ministry of Finance as approved by the United Nations Compensation Committee (UNCC)Since western Union maximum limit is USD5000.00 we have programmed your payment for USD5000.00 USD per day until you receive the total sum of USD5.5M.
Note: You cannot pick up the funds yet because your name has not yet been activated as the receiver of the funds. Please pick up below information and contact the western Union financial officer (Mr Desmond) for immediate activation of your total amount.
Below is your first payment for 5000.00 USD sent today.
M.T.C.N: 384-652-4569
Sender’s First Name: Joseph
Sender’s Last Name: Mmachi
Amount: USD5000.00
Copy/paste and track your payment here on below link:
https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderstatus.asp?country=globa
Call or e-mail below Information for the activation of fund immediately. And also forward the following details listed below to them for activation process.
1. Your Receiver Full Name:
2. Address:
4. Valid ID:
5. Phone Number:
Western Union Payment Unit Redemption Center
contact person: Mr Desmond
Email: ( incc2093@gmail.com }
Keep us updated once you received it.
Yours in service
Dr Eric Goodman
U.N Senior Coordinator of Project Funds.
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Anti-fraud resources:
