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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. )
- "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "cotonou" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Rose Taylor" <lily_coming_out@yahoo.co.jp>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Rose Taylor" <mrs.rosetaylor@outlook.com.au>
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2015 12:10:13 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Hello I have sent the $4500 USD.?
Hello,
I sent the payment through Money Gram and all I could come
up with was $4500 dollars, I was unable to come up with the total
amount $2.5Min USD. Meanwhile the Agent at the Money Gram office just
called me that they has to purchase your payment files so as to put your
name on the receiver's file in order to avoid any illegal transfer or
any hindrance on you when receiving the money that $55 dollars is for
the purchasen fee only. But I was already out of the town for an
investment project which I told you that I will be going for, Note: I
had already paid the transfer charge to them so please what I want you
to do is to send the $55 dollars to them so that they could purchase the
payment files and send the payment information to you in order to pick
up the $4500 dollars today okay. I told the lady in charge of the
transfer not to delay
on any thing once you send the $55 dollars to them that you really need
the money urgently. Here is their contact address.
Agent in charge
Mrs. Rose Taylor
Tell:(+229)6847 3265
Send
the $55 dollars to them through Western Union or Money Gram any of the
office that is close to you on this information written below so as to
make the process easier and faster.
Receiver:Name......EMERA EMMANUEL
Country...................Benin Republic
City.......................Cotonou
Text Question...............Trust ?
And Answer....................Honest
Then
after you send them $55 dollars, send the payment information to them.
Tell Mrs.Rose Taylor to give you the payment information for $4500 USD,
once you send the payment of $55.00 to them to enable you pick up the
money.
Kindly update me immediately you picked up the money.
Await your urgent response.Please just accept that little amount i know
is not
much.
Thanks& God bless
My Regards to your family
Connie May
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