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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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. )
- "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. )
- 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.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- westernunionmoney.transfer@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Susan Long" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunionmoney.transfer@rediffmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:02:59 -0800
Subject: Dear: Beneficiary
Dear: Beneficiary
My working partner has helped me to send your first batch of
payments via Western Union Money Transfer. The sum of $5000
was sent today via Western Union Money Transfer. The rest of the
$2,700,000 will be sent accordingly.
So you would have to contact
Mr. Steve Malone of Western Union Money Transfer office on this
Bellow listed information For the release of the funds to you.
E-mail: (westernunionmoney.transfer@rediffmail.com)
Phone: +229 98 321 775
Also forward to them this your personal information’s for them
to be sure that there are Dealing with you.
Your Full Name,
Your Home address,
Your current occupation
Scan copy of your passport photograph
You Direct Telephone number,
You’re Country.
Get in touch immediately with them on the above given email
contact or telephone number to enable them give you the Western
Union Mtcn Number for the first US$5000 that is ready for you
to pick up in your Country.
Fasten up and get in touch with them immediately.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Susan Long
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Anti-fraud resources:
