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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. )
- "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.
- 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.
- westernunionoffice1985@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <westernunionoffice1985@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2017 04:16:04 +0100
Subject: Attention: Please
Attention: Please
Good day?, Two payment was sent to you through WESTERN UNION $5000 each, HERE is MTCN :739
-189-6288, and the second one MTCN:759-189-6274 it is available for pick up at western
union now ,Contact us now with the below Email:(westernunionoffice1985@gmail.com) But you
have to bear it in mind that you must pay sum of $95 for signing of your payment processing
activation code. Before the MTCN will be authorize to release in your name. If you cannot
pay this $95 don't respond so that we cancel Transfer immediately ok,
senders name -Rose Jen,
Test Question -In God?
Test Answer - We Trust
But you must pay $95 First Before you can pick up your payment's today.
HERE ARE THE INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO SEND THE FEE OF $95 DOLLARS TODAY.
RECEIVER'S NAME: EMMA JOHN
ADDRESS: COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
QUESTION: Be Honest
ANSWER: Truth
AMOUNT: US$95
MTCN.......
Thanks for understanding and God bless
Regard
MR. EMMA JOHN
Call +234764258303
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