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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. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Lukman Jaji <courier.express99@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: lukman22jaji@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 17:28:14 +0100
Subject: PLEASE FOR GOD SAKE I NEED YOUR HELP
I am Lukman Jaji from Borno State in the Northern part of Nigeria. l
am currently a Muslim and l which to convert to Christian. l am
suffering in pains from the cause of the death of my parents and my
juniors ones that was killed by the terrorist group called BOKO HARAM
due to my late father's disagreement to be part of the group and the
immorality ways of killing peoples
l am only left with my only brother Musa and l want to change my
religion and by so doing to assist me and my junior brother left to
secure a house on our since, Our house has been destroyed and burnt
down by the militant. l find it hard to feed myself and my junior
brother ad further my education.
l need your assistance and to give a new name Christian name and l
will start practicing in Christianity way. l ever regretted being a
Muslim person in life due to the mere fact that we are attending
modern education which is against the Islamic Culture. l want you to
use the medium of expression to assist me "No amount is little " to
assist me and l believe l will regard you as my parents and l will
never regretted changing my religion because l know the Christian have
fears of GOD. Any amount of contribution you are intending to assists
me can be send by the below stated details:
WESTERN UNION:
Name: Lukman Jaji
Country: Nigeria
Amount: ????????
MTCN: ????????
Text Question: IN GOD
Text Answer: WE TRUST
I look forward to hear from you and l believe the almighty GOD will
reward you in abundantly (AMEN)
Thanks,
Lukman Jaji
Mobile No: +(234) 803 718 2658
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