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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:
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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. )
- "we will advice you " (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- westernun383@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: WESTERN UNION <icpcinvestigation17@gmail.com>
Reply-To: westernun383@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2022 19:21:36 +0100
Subject: MTCN #: 076-567-1903
This is to inform you that we want to start sending your winning
lottery of $10.5Million USD today and you can only be receiving two
timesdaily from us through your payment file,note that you will pay
$80 only for your transferring file. I have made today's payment for
you below is the Mtcn, you can also track it on-line
Website;https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=NG
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N): 076-567-1903
Sender?s First Name: Clarence
Sender?s Last Name: Corass
Text Question: Sport?
Answer: Golf
Amount Programmed: $500.00
Re-confirm your information's to enable us activate the MTCN in your name
you name___
you country__
you address___
you Occupation____
you Age/sex__
Your occupation Direct phone number__
If you are ready to pay the transferring file which is $80 let this
office so we will advice you how you can send it
Contact email: { westernun383@gmail.com }
Best Regards
Mr John Coco
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Anti-fraud resources:
