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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:
- "certificate 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. )
- "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. )
- "money transfer control number" (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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: Dr Bill Martins <www.@major.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Dr Bill Martins <billmartins345@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2018 22:36:40 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Urgent Attention Beneficiary
Urgent Attention Beneficiary
I want to inform you that we have already sent you $5000.00 US Dollars through Western Union as we have been given the mandate to transfer your full over due payment total sum of $7.5 Millions USD via Western Union by the United Nation . I tried reaching you on phone to give you all the information on phone but I couldn’t get you through yesterday,So I decided to email you the MTCN and sender name so that you can pick up the $5000.00 to enable us send another $5000.00 today as you know we will be sending you $5000.00 only per transfer. And it was agreed that you will pay the Transfer Permit and Fund Release Order Certificate fee which the sum of $79 only before your fund will be release to you.
Below is the western union information to pick up the $5000.00; which you will be receiving daily after you send the Transfer Permit and Fund Release Order Certificate charges fee sum of $79 and it will serve as re confirmation of the payment file.
Here is the Senders Information; Money Transfer Control Number (M.T.C.N) 754 448 9926
SENDERS FIRST NAME : Anthony
SENDERS LAST NAME : Mike
COUNTRY : BENIN REPUBLIC
MTCN: #. 754 448 9926
TEXT QUESTION ___When
ANSWER __45Minutes
AMOUNT SENT : $5000
Confirmation: visit our official website by clicking on (https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/self-service/app/tracktransfersuccess)
when opens click on (tracking) and write down the MTCN Number :(#. 754 448 9926) and sender as (Anthony Mike)
Our agreement is that you will be receiving sum of $5,000 USD daily until the total of $7.5 Millions USD is transferred in
your name.
Also fill the information below to help us facilitate your transfer via Western Union:
1) Your Full Name:.............
2) Country and Mobile:. .
3) Home/ Office Address:....
4) Profession and Age:.......
5) Copy of your id Card.....
Note: The Only Fee Request for You to pay Is $79 for reactivate of the Western Union MTCN Number to your name and Transfer
Permit and Fund Release Order Certificate charges fee only, and after this Fee, No More Fee again .
BEST REGARDS,
Rev.Bill Martins
Cell Phone +229.6220.7297
DIRECTOR WESTERN UNION
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