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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. )
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "W U M T" <officefile4@cantv.net>
Reply-To: wumtb@ymail.com
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:24:22 +0600 (BDT)
Subject: URGENT...
Western Union Money Transfer
One Bishops Square Akpakpa E1 6AO, Cotonou
Benin Republic
Website: http://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asP
Phone: +229 99477184
E-mail: westernunionbn@e-mail.ua
Attention Beneficiary,
This to inform you that the federal ministry of finance Benin Republic has
started releasing Scam victim compensation fund mandated by United Nation
Organization through our office.
I am contacting you because our agent have sent you the first payment of
$5,000 for your compensation funds total amount of $500. 000 (Five hundred
thousand united state dollar)
We need your urgent response so that we shall release your payment
information to you.
You can call our office hot line for urgent attention (+229 987 58 057)
Our pleasure to be of your service.
Sincerely,
Dr. Frank L. Joseph
Director Western Union Money
Benin Republic
Phone: +229 994 33 163
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Anti-fraud resources:
