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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. )
- 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: Western Union MOney Transfer <drrais@heritage.gov.my>
Reply-To: WESTERN UNION <western.union_money22@live.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 14:27:29 +0800 (MYT)
Subject: CALL FOR VERIFICATION
URGENT MESSAGE FROM WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER!!!
How are you today?
I write to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00,USD dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full compensation payment total sum of USD750,000.00 via western union by this governemnt.
I have on a good authority email you the MTCN and sender's details to enable you pick up the first $5000.00,USD and confirm receipt to us so as to enable us wire the next USD5000.00 by tomorrow and subsequent ones since we can only send USD5000.00 a
day.
Please pick up this information and run to any western union in your country to pick up the $5000.00,USD and call me back to
send you another payment tomorrow,
Manager: Mr John Kola
Email: western.union_money22@live.co.uk
Tel: +234 704 092 1420
Call or Email me once you picked up the USD5000.00 today.
Below is the western union information for pick up
MTCN :622-155-4897
Sender's Name:Osimeh Jacob
Question:HONEST
Answer:TRUST
Amount:USD 5000.00
I am waiting for your call once you pick up $5000.00,USD The above payment was awarded to you by the Nigeria Government/World Bank to compensate you on the past expirence you had with the Nigeria scammers. I hope you use your money well this time.
Thanks
Nancy Brown
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