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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 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 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.
- w.unionmoneytransfer1@o2.pl (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: money file <thefileofmoney@o2.pl>
Reply-To: fileofoffice@o2.pl
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:49:45 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: CONTACT THE WESTERN UNION DIRECTOR INCHARGE OF YOUR PAYMENT
Greetings!
we concluded yesterday with the governor of the bank here in Burkina Faso known as eco bank plc management that you will begin receiving your $1.5musd payment of dollars by transfering money through Western Union money transfer,
But you will receiving $5000 per a day until the total of $1.5musd is completely transfer to you, and you are therefore advice to contact the director of Western Union Mr.Edwin Anest , when contacting him re-confirm your delivery information to him immediately for him to send you the Control number of your money from your first payment of $5000 for you to pick it up at any western union around you in your country.
Here is the Western union director email address and we advise you to send your information to be picking your money to him.
CONTACT THE WESTERN UNION DIRECTOR INCHARGE OF YOUR PAYMENT
E-mail:(w.unionmoneytransfer1@o2.pl)
Best regards
Ms.Hellen frank
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Anti-fraud resources:
