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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. )
- "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. )
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- 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.
- MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
Fraud email example:
From: Errol Walrond <walronde@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <walronde1@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2014 13:06:24 -0400
Subject: Urgent Help Needed........Errol Walrond
Hello,
I was told that my sister who is a contractor in Nigeria had a car accident with her husband and there 3 children and they lost there first child immediately while my sister, her husband and other children sustained serious injury which i was told that may lead to surgery.I had to travel immediately to Nigeria to see them and on getting to Nigeria i saw that it was terrible but the doctor have managed to stop the bleeding.However, i have deposited the money i have with me while the doctor is demanding for another 2000 euro for the treatment. Please I need some money quickly so that the doctor can buy blood and add to my sister and her family and also continue with the treatment to avoid losing another person.Kindly understand that I'll refund the money to you as soon as I return in few days. Of course you know that my phone cannot work here in Nigeria but i can be able to check my mail regular since i have my laptop with me. The Doctor finally said that it must be something very urgent to avoid losing another person. Please you have to transfer the money immediately through WESTERN UNION or MONEY GRAM transfer in my details below.
Name: Errol WalrondCity: LagosCountry: Nigeria
Please make sure you forward the transfer number, secret question and answer so that i can pick up the money without delay and save my sister and her family.
Thanks
Errol Walrond
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Anti-fraud resources:
