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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:
- "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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- westunionbj1@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Western Union <soglosoglo@cantv.net>
Reply-To: westunionbj1@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 06:16:38 -0430 (VET)
Subject: Your funds is available for you to pick it up
Good day
Your funds is available for you to pick it up
This is to inform you that we want to start sending your winning lottery of $4.6USD today and you can only be receiving two times daily from us through your payment file, note that you will pay $95 only for your transferring file.I have made today's payment for you, the MTCN/ 759-851-8712
Bellow is your first payment for $5000usd sent today.
Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N):759-851-8712
Question=Red
Answer=Blue
Senders First Name: Jaroslav
Senders Last Name: Kundla
Re-confirm your information's your name phone number to enable us activate the MTCN in your name
Contact Mr.Peter Johnson
Email, westunionbj1@gmail.com
+229 9838-3435
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Anti-fraud resources:
