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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:
- "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. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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: "MR.FRED IBE" <sharonbradley14@gmail.com>
Reply-To: "MR.FRED IBE" <mrfredibe@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2015 17:03:30 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention Dear
Attention Dear
This is to officially informed you that we have concluded arrangements
to effect your payment of $4.7 million, USD through MONEY GRAM Swift
Money transfer services today, but the maximum amount you will be
receiving every day starting from tomorrow is $6,000.00 as reflected
in our transfer system daily until the funds is completely
transferred.
This special arrangement is being used to avoid all scrupulous demands
by both the states and federal authorities that have previously
delayed your payment till date; we shall need your maximum
co-operation to ensure that strictness and confidence is maintained to
avoid any further delays.You are to discard any request asking you to
send money to any agency such as courier company.
The above arrangement has been signed and endorsed by UNITED NATION
(UN), EUROPEAN UNION (EU) given credence that this transaction is
devoid of any form form of illegality.
Please contact the Accredited MONEY GRAM Agent for the details of your
first payment of $6,000 USD and reconfirm your correct details that
you will like the first transfer to be program with such as Receivers
Name, destination where you will like the transfer to be send to and
your cell phone number for urgent communication if the need arise.
Fill your details below for reference purposes:
*NAME OF CUSTOMER: .........
*ADDRESS: ..........
*COUNTRY: .................
*TEL: .....................
*OCCUPATION: ..............
Contact the below Electronic Transfer unit of MONEY GRAM for
immediate programing of your first transfer:Call him on +229 98276461
Thanks and God Bless
Mr.Fred Ibe
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Anti-fraud resources:
