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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. )
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Rev. Jimmy Wilson" <"WWW.WU."@athena.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: "Rev. Jimmy Wilson" <wu6260@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2017 05:59:53 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Attention Beneficiary!
This is for the owner of this Email address: I have sent you several notices
concerning the claim of your benefit that was paid to you as compensation from
United Nation following my petition against the Government as a human right
activist to compensate you with the sum of US$6.8 Million but I have not heard
from you ever since and I hope you will reply this last notice. You were meant
to be receiving $5000.00usd daily until it completes the correct amount of
US$6.8 Million for better understanding of what I mean, please copy this link https://wumt.westernunion.com/asp/orderStatus.asp?country=CN
browser Then enter the following details on the displayed box fields and click
CHECK STATUS to track your money online with,
Sender's Name:-------------- Kalala Eletise
MTCN#: -------------- (404-796-7740)
Text Question:--------------- In God
Answer: --------------- We Trust
Amount: --------------- USD $5000
The status now shows Available for pick up by receiver because this amount has
been on the system so long for security reasons, since I did not get any reply
message from you after sending you several notices with the transaction details
to enable you pick up your MTCN, Now you are strongly advised for the last time
to go on to make payment of $59 usd for the activation charges via western
union money transfer. please respond asap so that I can provide you with the
information were to send the fee. be assured 100% that upon the receipt of this
required $59 we shall commerce on the immediate release of your funds to be
pick up in any western union office
Regards
Rev. Jimmy Wilson
Phone: +229-65128301
Western Union Money Transfer
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Anti-fraud resources:
