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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "transfer of your funds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- 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: "MR Johnson Lee" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrjohnsonlee01@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:39:58 -0300
Subject: YOUR MTCN NUMBER: 9167653719 REPLY
Dear Beneficiary,
We have concluded to effect your payment of $1.7 Million, through western union, but the maximum amount you will be receiving each day starting from now is $5000.00 daily until the funds is completely transferred.
Also reconfirm your information to them below
YOU’RE NAME----------------------
YOU’RE ADDRESS-----------
YOU’RE PHONE-------------
OCCUPATION-----------------
Note you will start receiving your first pay-out of $5000 today as soon as you send us the requested fee $135 USD to enable us purchase your inheritance file and fix the payment with your name and location as soon as the reactivation is done to prevent illegal transfer of your funds or any form of hindrance.
BELOW IS YOUR FIRST PAYMENT INFORMATION.
Sender's First Name:Sahrir
Sender’s Last Name:Saad
MTCN: 9167653719
Amount===$5000 usd
YOU ADVISE TO TRACK THIS PAYMENT ONLINE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE TO CONFIRM THAT YOUR FUND IS AVAILABLE TO PICK UP BY YOU. CLICK HERE.(https://wumt. westernunion.com/asp/ orderStatus.asp?country=global ) BE INFORM YOU CAN NOT PICK THIS PAYMENT IN ANY WESTERN UNION WORLD WIDE TILL YOU SEND US THE REACTIVATION FEE.
SEND THE FEE $135 USD WITH BELOW INFORMATION THROUGH WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM.
RECEIVER'S NAME==IBE GODSON
COUNTRY==Nigeria
CITY===Lagos Nigeria
TEXT QUESTION==GOOD
ANSWER==TRUST
MTCN NUMBER===
Finally, you will start picking up your payment immediately you send us the fee regarding the purchasing of your inheritance file and reactivation of your payment file. We are waiting to receive the MTCN NUMBER AND SENDER'S NAME AS SOON AS YOU SEND THE FEE $135 only.
Calls
MR Johnson Lee.
Director western union office
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Anti-fraud resources:
