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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:
- 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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- 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.
- +22999451521 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- alrs01@yahoo.fr (Yahoo, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Ikee Usman <ikeeusman@yahoo.pt>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 10:03:37 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: your past effort compensation
Attn;
Please Re-confirm your details your $1.5million past effort compensation with cost of $49 only to receive the $1.5millions in within 28 hours delivery.
Receiver name.
Mailing address.
Phone.
Cell.
Street.
Zip Code.
City.
State.
Country.
Nearest Airport.
Copy of your I.D CARD.
It will cost you $49 to receive your $1.5million bank draft under 28 hours only via UN Courier company.
You will try send 49 dollars via western union and get back to us alrs01@yahoo.fr with the MTCN $ sender name
MTCN............
SENDER NAME.....
Here is info to send $49 via western union.
Receiver name...... JAMES OKPALA
Address............ AP 310 RUE AGBOKOU PORTO NOVO BENIN REP
City............... Porto Novo
Country............ Benin Republic
Country code....... 00229
Test Question...... Sure
Answer............. Yes
Amount............. 49 dollars
Do get back to me with mtcn
Sincerely,
Ikee Usman
Call me at +22999451521
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