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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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: timothybent@mykind.info
Reply-To: woodspatman74@aol.com
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:24:52 -0500
Subject: Track Your 1st Payment Online.........Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):8078929700
FROM OFFICE OF THE NYC CHECK EXPRESS
ADDRESS:1995 PARK STREET ATLANTIC BEACH,NY 11509
WEB SITE.www.nyccheckexpress.com/
TEL :506 800-0547
REF: CBN/IRD/-NY-CBX/021/11
RE: RSVX /07342/01/11 WESTERN UNION
MONEY TRANSFER®
INSTALL MENTAL
PAYMENT OFFICE
This is to officially inform you that we have verified your contract
inheritance
file presently on my desk, and we found out that you have not received your
payment due to lack of co-operation and not fulfilling the obligations giving
to
you in respect to your contract inheritance and lottery payment
through your payment bank.
You are to track your first install mental payment online at
www.westernunion.com OR Call Western Union tracking number 1-800-325-6000 for
available fund for your verification
purpose.Below is the Western Union Details for you record, You can Track it
online now.
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):8078929700
Senders First Name:Peter
Senders Last Name: Gordon
Thanks for your co-operation and Waiting to hear from you soonest.
We look forward to serving you better.
Best regards,
MR. Woods Patman
TEL :506 800-0547
National Corporate Office
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Anti-fraud resources:
