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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. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- bernard_lawfirm@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Ms.Sharon Milk" <billreconciliationreconciliati@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Bernard_lawfirm@consultant.com
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2021 08:21:57 +0100
Subject: Dear Email Owner,
Attn
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)/ ECO-WAS / UNITED NATIONS is
compensating all the Scam victims and your email address was found in
the scam victim's list for this fiscal year 2021. This I-ECB FINANCIER
COMPANY office has been mandated by the IMF/ ECO-WAS/ UNITED NATIONS
to transfer your compensation to you via western union Money Transfer.
We have concluded to effect your own payment through Western Union
Money Transfer to easy pick up those fund in good condition,$5000
twice daily until the total $2.6 million is completely transferred to
you. We now need your information where we will be sending the
funds,such as;Receiver name(Your full Name)address and phone number.
Contact Western Union agent with this E-mail: (
Bernard_lawfirm@consultant.com ).. For urgent inquiry call Bernard for
the payment.
Mr.Bernard Zohon
E-mail: Bernard_lawfirm@consultant.com
Telephone:+22998567854
Contact Bernard,immediately you get this mail to enable him speed up
your payment to released the $5000 dollar MTCN today for you to pick
up the payment OK.
(1)Your Full name:
(2)Your Phone number:
(3)Your Address/Country:
(4)Your Age:
Thank you,
Ms.Sharon Milk
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Anti-fraud resources:
