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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:
- "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. )
- This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
- They don't notify winners by email.
- You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
- They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
- They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
- They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
- They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
- They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
- 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.
- westernunionoffiiceclaimdepart@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- thank you manager hikmet ersek email: westernunionoffiiceclaimdepart@gmail.com email: westernunionclaimdepartmentusa@mail.com also make (Gmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Facebook winners" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <facebookclaimdepartment2018usa@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 May 2018 20:47:47 +0100
Subject: WESTERN UNION TRANSFER SAFETY FOR ALL AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN
WESTERN UNION TRANSFER SAFETY FOR ALL AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN
Good Morning
We are glad to bring to your notify that western Union money transfer board of director is given out compensation to our lost scam victim who has been using Western Union as mean of sending money worldwide, which the FBI report that we should investigate some of this victim record to compensate them with the money we have recovered from those imposter.
This transaction is hightly confidential your payment reference number will be release to you as soon as you receive your williness to process further regarding your lost money.
Note this below information is needed for verification and confirmation of your Compensation money.
Full Name:
Address:
phone Number
Once above information is verify your confirmation will be process of your first release payment.
Our leadership team remains true to our vision and values, putting customers' evolving needs at the center of our innovation and holding up trust and convenience as the hallmarks of our business.
Thank you
Manager
Hikmet Ersek
Email: westernunionoffiiceclaimdepart@gmail.com
Email: westernunionclaimdepartmentusa@mail.com
Also make sure you check your email often to ensure a speedy transfer of your winning money to you. Check both your INBOX and JUNK with GMAIL because your email may be received in either INBOX or JUNK because network problem.
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Anti-fraud resources:
