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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- 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.
- info.paulmarth1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Information" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info.paulmarth1@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 19 May 2018 22:04:42 -0700
Subject: Urgent
Very Urgent Please,
I am Mrs. Jones Bryan the Managing Director Money Gram Transfer office here in Texas United States and can be reached with (903) 690-7403.The transfer of your fund has commenced today with your first payment of $4,500,000 already sent as ordered by the Federal Ministry for Finance From the compensation fund origin.
What is required from you is $87 to activate your Money Gram Transfer code of all your transfers and this payment must be made to this office before the transfer information will be released for you to be able to pick up your first payment.
Please you are advised to move to the Money Gram Transfer and effect payment for the activation fee of your MTCN immediately and start receiving your funds without delay.
You are to send the fee with INFORMATION BELLOW.
First Name: Karic
Last Name: Joe
City:Poto Novo
Country:Benin Republic
Amount; $87
send me the payment slip that was given to you by the agent Money Gram agent where you made the payment.
REGARDS
Mrs. Jones Bryan
Money Gram Transfer office
Email; info.paulmarth1@yahoo.com
Texas United States
(903) 690-7403
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Anti-fraud resources:
