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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. )
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Western Union <hr@mail.yamoffice.yam.com>
Reply-To: <wsternbonaza@qq.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:53:39 +0200
Subject: WESTERN UNION BONANZA:CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Western Union
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Any Were Worldwide,
We Stand To Serve You More Better.
FROM OFFICE OF THE WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER.
WEST AFRICA RAFFLE DRAW BONANZA
TO ALL OUR ESTEEM CUSTOMERS WEST AFRICA,
This is to inform you that you are one of the western union winner of this year from West Africa Region branch You have won your self $1,000 000.00 United States Dollars for patronizing us over the years,your name was out from the raffle draw Box.Congratulations Once again.
Kindly send the requested information for processing of your winning funds immediately for quick release of your winning money for a proper verifications of our data base.
Full Name
Address
Country
Age
Tel/Cell Phone
A scan copy of your ID or ID Number
Once again Congratulation please keep patronizing us we will keep serving you better
David Wills.
Western Union
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide Send Money
And Receive Money Worldwide.
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