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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. )
- "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. )
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: Western Union Pay-out Gold card
<info.westernuniongoldcard01@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:58:21 +0400
Subject: TAG & STAMP.
Attention Please.
Thank you for accepting my email,Please note that the TAG & STAMP are
Normally Obtained benin republic Before The Delivery will be release to
your destination address. we have To Obtain The TAG & STAMP In BENIN
REPUBLIC & send Them to The USA for the final release of your western union
gold card. Please note that your tracking details are: HF258452854214AU.
Due to the stop at Usa, you can not track it now till you send the
requested fee of $36, to get you the TAG & STAMP In BENIN before you can
track it and confirm it. Please you have to understand that you have to
send the $36 with the Name : ONYEKACHI JAMES I promise that there will be
no more payment demanded from you
again and this will be the last. I have to reconfirm it to you again.
You have to send te fee by Western union or money Gram only: Payment
should be made via Western union Or Money Gram only with the name below:
1. RECEIVER NAME... ONYEKACHI JAMES
2. COUNTRY... BENIN REPUBLIC.
3. CITY... COTONOU .Add : 11 Missebo cotonou 2 Cotonou -Benin.
5. TEXT QUESTION... what colour TEXT ANSWER... Yellow
7.Amount … $36
Forward the MTCN NUMBER xxx xxx xxx x.
Please as soon as you send the money, Please do send us the MTCN Please
call me or i will call you this morning so that we can finishup every
things by today without any further delay again. call me now.
Waiting to hear from you soon.
Best regards,
Ganesh Amoorthy
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