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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. )
- "moneygram" (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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found 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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: Mrsclara Edward <mrsclara.edward@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: ms.claraedwards@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:18:21 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: THINK TWICE NOW
Overseas International Fund Monitoring Unit
3 Whitehall Court London SW1A 2EL.
Dear,
This will be my second time of advicing you not to make the western union/moneygram payment that you made the other time even the money you gave the diplomart and other bank fees are all illegal. This is because the reason for which you are making the payment cannot be accomplished. You may doubt me again but this will be my final advice to you concerning this matter.
If by the next working week you recieve your contract/inheritance funds own to you as they have kept promising you then dont contact me again know that i am wrong but if by the end of the working week which they gave you and you dont recieve the funds and they keep asking you to make more payments for one thing or the other before they will release your CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FUNDS, then you can get back to me without any delay for futher advice.
Will advice you on how and when to received your funds as you get back to me.
Regards
Mrs Clara Edward
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