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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:
- "required fee " (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. )
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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. )
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "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 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.
- info.westernuniongoldcard01@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Western Union Pay-out Gold card." <interl.w.uniongoldcard@wss-id.org>
Reply-To: info.westernuniongoldcard01@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 13:56:43 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ATM GOLD CARD
Dear Sir, Â
This is to acknowledge the receipt of your email thank you and the money that you sent,  We understand that you have feel cheated so many times to receive your over due wining/inheritance fund ,and today Western Union have decided to repayment you with $100,000.00 for your lost money .it is our pleasure to notify you that we have already concluded every necessary documentation and your payment is keyed and you will received the ATM GOLD CARD to enable you Activate and setup your personal PIN to be able to receive money as soon as you send the required fee .
 We shall send your WESTERN UNION ATM GOLD CARD as soon as you send the required totalling (USD $42 ) which is the only fees needed from you to complete your transfer to empower the immediate release of your WESTERN UNION ATM GOLD CARD and all the necessary information .Payment should be made via Western Union Money transfer or Money Gram to the Name below according to the policy and the payment arrangements .
1. RECEIVER NAME... OGECHUKWU OMOKWE
2. COUNTRY... BENIN.
3. CITY... COTONOU .Add   :   NO 11 Missebo mtk cotonou -Benin.
5. TEXT QUESTION... what colure   TEXT ANSWER... white
7 .Amount …$42
Forward the MTCN NUMBER xxx xxx xxx x. senders name and your  postal address.
We assure you that your WESTERN UNION ATM GOLD CARD AND ALL THE NEEDED INFORMATION will reach you immediately we receive the complete requirement needed from you.
THIS IS A NEW ARRANGEMENT AND THE TOTAL MONEY IS BEEN KEYED IN IT Â
Yours in Service,
Mr. Ganesh Amoorthy.
Contact us at: info.westernuniongoldcard01@gmail.com
Western Union BENIN - COTONOU .
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Anti-fraud resources:
