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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. )
- "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.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
Fraud email example:
From: western Union <w.union21@rocketmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:58:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM WESTERN UNION OFFICE URGENT REPLY
Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money Worldwide
WESTERN UNION COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC &n bsp;
10 Parkville Road,
Aso Rock Villa Cotonou
Benin Republic.
Dr.Peter Sam
Manager/Head of Dept
Cotonou Zone
WESTERN UNION COTONOU REPUBLIC
Region: Benin Republic
Amt Involved: US$1.6M
ATTENTION :
How are you today it has been along time that i did not hear from you so i will like to let you no that i have a good news for right now i have try to completer the fee like as i told you on the last phone call i did to you but as you can see right i have the sum of $280usd right now so all i nered from you is that you should try and see that you can up with the sum of $155usd and send it so that i will completer it for that is all i need from you ,
It is very urgent as i am sending you this mail please do use the information below and send the as soon as you got this mail and also i will call you in next 7hours coming so that you give me the mtcn which you have made the payment
RECEIVE NAME:... Martin John Chukwuma
COUNTRY:......... BENIN REPUBLIC
CITY:.............. COTONOU
TEXT QUESTION:....When
TEXT ANSWER:......Now
AMOUNT:$155usd
CONTACT US @ 00229-9893-0803
WE AWAITS YOUR REPONSE
BEST REGARDS,
DR.PETER SAM
(303)
Western Union®
Welcome to Western Union
Send Money
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