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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. )
- "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. )
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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: "Benin Republic" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <westernunion6@yeah.net>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2014 17:08:08 -0700
Subject: Dear Valued Customer!!!
Dear Valued Customer!!!
My Dear we have been given the mandate to transfer your
full compensation payment total sum of USD $800 000 00
via western union by Our manager Operation
manager has sent your first payment of
$2,500.00 to you and here is the information;
Contact Western union Agent: Pastor Mark,
Western Union Department Benin,
Mobile:+229 67170881
E-mail:( westernunion6@yeah.net )
As request.. Your Full Name and Your Phone Number,
Bellow is your first payment for $2,500usd sent today.
Sender First Name: Felix
Sender Last Name: Ekwuribe
MTCN: 6052270997
TEXT QUESTION: What Color?
TEXT ANSWER: Red
AMOUNT: $2 500
COUNTRY: Benin Republic
I am waiting for your urgent response after you have
picked up this first payment.
Mrs Ada Godwin
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Anti-fraud resources:
