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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:
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "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. )
- "clearance certificate" (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. )
- "million dollars" (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)
- 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.
- wunion367@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: mr william <western.union673@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: mr william <wunion367@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 17:02:35 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: ATTENTION DEAR FUND OWNER.
 ATTENTION DEAR FUND OWNER.
This is to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 dollars through Western union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full over due payment total sum of $2.5 million dollars, via western union by the Ministry of Finance. I tried reaching you on phone to give you all the information on phone but I couldn't get through So I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you can pick up the $5000 .00 dollars to enable us send another $5000.00 dollars today as you know we will be sending you $5000.00 dollars only per day. And it was agreed that you will pay the transfer clearance certificate which is sum of $85.00 dollars before the release of the payment to you, take note of this that you will pay the $85.00 dollars before picking up your first payment.
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Please pick up this information and locate any western union around you to pick up the $5000.00 dollars and call the Operation Manager Mr. william uba, because he is the person in charge of your payment, and he can send you another payment today once you contact him, phone line Call +229 68485991 E-mail:(wunion367@yahoo.com) contact him once you receive this alert today after you have paid the $85.00 dollars before he will release the Question and answer to you today.
Below is the western union information to pick up the $5000.00 dollars which you will be receiving daily after you sent them their transfer clearance certificate of $85.00 dollars and it will serve as re-confirmation of your payment file in their office.
Here is the Senders Information;
(M.T.C.N):6368406063Senders First Name: DALESenders Last Name: BUGGINSAmount :$5000.00 dollars
Website; www.westernunion.com track it and be sure ok.
They will be waiting to hear from you with the transfer clearance certificate payment of $85.00 dollars today,And you can use this below information to send the transfer charges today.
Receiver Name....Emma amobiCountry------ Â Benin republicAmount---------$85.00 dollarsYour.Question----WhenYour. Answer-----NowSender's Name----Mtcn-------------?
Be advice that $85.00 dollars is for the transfer clearance certificate and is compulsory as they told me that is the only money you will pay until you receive your payment completely. Endeavor to E-mail your direct telephone number because you will be called once the payment information is sent to you.reconform your details bellow to know that i sent this to the right person.Your ugent email is needed so that we can go ahead and release your money.
Your Full name:............Mobile Number:.............Address:...................Country:...................passport-id copy------age sex----------occupation-------
RegardsMR williams uba.Email; (wunion367@yahoo.com)Phone;+229 68485991
******************************© 2014 Western Union Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved
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