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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. )
- "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. )
- ",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)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
- western_union_payment229@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- phone line:::: +229-980-649-21 email::: western_union_payment229@yahoo.com.hk do not forget to furnish him with the below data: 1. (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: UK BARCLAYS BANK <online1090034@telkomsa.net>
Reply-To: Benin Republic Western Union <western_union_payment229@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:43:14 +0200 (SAST)
Subject: Mery Christmas !!!!
How are you today?
I am Mr FRANK BEN the director of foreign activity of the UK BARCLAYS BANK . I write to inform you that we have already sent you $ 5,000 USD through Western Union as we have been given the mandate by th UN and tha ECOWAS to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of $ 1,500,000 USD via western union of the Benin Republic. However you will receive every week a sum of $ 5,000 USD. In the meantime here are the informations of your first payment :
MTCN: 2933450367
Sender name: AHOUANSOU Alain
Therefore you need to contact Mr Alao SIKIROU the general manager of the Benin Republic Western Union for him to give you the transfer payment information such as text question and answer so that you can be able to pick up your fund.
Manager:::: Mr Alao SIKIROU
Phone line:::: +229-980-649-21
Email::: western_union_payment229@yahoo.com.hk
Do not forget to furnish him with the below data:
1. Your full Names: ...................
2. Your current cell phone Number: ............
3. Your City: ..........................
4. Your: Country: ........................
5. Your Current Age and Occupation: ...........
Please try to contact him today for him to forward the payment information to you remember to indicate the registration code of AX231DAWU to him when e-mailing or calling him.
Do get in touch with me once you have got the transfer.
Mr FRANK BEN
Direction of foreign activity of the UK Barclays Bank.
Phone line: +447035956594
EMAIL: u_barclaysbank@yahoo.com.ph
Mery Christmas !!!!
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