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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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 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.
- 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.
- wu840579@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr.Igwu Godwin," <gtbonline71@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wu840579@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2022 14:57:55 -0700
Subject: Attention:Beneficiary
Welcome to Western Union:
Send Money Worldwi
FROM THE OFFICE OF WESTERN UNION HEAD OFFICE DEPARTMENT
REPUBLIC OF BENIN
Our Ref:WUMT0XX2/987TELEPHONE :
MR MARK O JEENY Call +2347033655846
Attention:Beneficiary
I want to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 US Dollars
through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer
your full over due payment total sum of $7.8500,000:00 USD, via western union
by the Ministry of Finance. I tried reaching you on phone to give you
all the information on phone but I couldn't get through yesterday,
So I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you can
pick up the $5000.00 to enable us send another $5000.00 today as you
know we will be sending you $5000.00 only per day. And it was agreed
that you will pay the transfer clearance certificate which sum of $69
before the release of the payment to you.
Below is the western union information to pick up the $5000.00; which
you will be receiving daily after you sent them their transfer
clearance certificate of $69 and it will serve as re-confirmation of
your payment file in their office.
Here is the Senders Information;
honey Transfer Control Number (MTCN):# 6324536290
Senders ALBERT ANTONO
Question: Good?
Answer: Today
Amount: -USD $5000 (Available for pick up by receiver)
Website:(https://www.westernunion.com/global-service/track-transfer?)
They will be waiting to hear from you with the transfer clearance
certificate payment of $69 today;And you can use this below
information to send the transfer charges today.
Receiver's Name: CHIRST TATA
Country: Benin Republic
City: Cotonou
Amount: $69 usd
Text Question: Who is able
Answer: God
Be advice that $69 transfer clearance certificate is compulsory as
they told me that is the only money you will pay until you receive
your payment completely. Endeavor to E-mail your direct telephone
number because you will call once the payment information is sent to
you.
informations is sent to you,
Regards MR MARK.O JEENY ,
E-MAIL wu840579@gmail.com
western union department.REPUBLIC of BENIN.
CALL US AFTER THE PAYMENT +2347033655846
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Anti-fraud resources:
