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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "MONEY GRAM" <info@moneygram.com>
Reply-To: ronald.edward@hotmail.co.za
Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 02:17:08 -0000
Subject: RE: HAPPY ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
MONEY GRAM CUSTOMER CARE
21st Floor
Melrose arch Plaza Permata
2001
Johannesburg
South Africa
The G-20 Group in relationship with HSBC London has concluded that
our working partner (Money Gram South Africa) has helped us to send your
first instalmental payment of US$5,000 as instructed by the Group of
Twenty (G-20) in conjunction with the South Africa government and will keep
sending you $5000 twice a week until the full payment of (US$820,000 )
is fully remitted to you.
Here is the informations of the $5000.00 your first payout
MONEY TRANSFER REFERENCE: 66-097-334
SENDER'S NAME: Kelly Pedersen
AMOUNT: US$5000
To track your funds, You are to forward your name to our Money Gram agent
(Mr Ronald Edward) via email: ronald.edward@hotmail.co.za
Your Name __________________________
Phone number _______________________
Contact Mr Ronald Edward for the funds Clearance Certificate necessary for
the release of your funds.
Best Regards,
Mrs Patricia Lee
Money Gram South Africa
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