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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:
- "to your nominated bank account" (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)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
Fraud email example:
From: "Barrister Thomas Dudu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <nicolasadran@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2013 05:13:07 -0800
Subject: Urgent Respond
Greetings,
I am Barrister J.T. Dudu, national Secretary General to Ghana Barristers Association (GBA). Many years of experience in property and assert management and presently a consultant management. I do understand that your determination is to help the unfortunate youth and refugees in West Africa settled in the western world in other for them to achieve their aim. I Barr. Barrister J.T. Dudu (national secretary to Ghana Barr association) on behalf of this young refugee who just lost his foreign beneficiary and intended to secure another foreign beneficiary to receive his fund of Euro 22 million abroad.
I am willing to render legal assistance in procuring documents for your transactions ONLY IF you will show seriousness by co-operating with legal Aids. I am a senior special adviser on legal matters and international relations to the President of the republic of Ghana property consultant to various firms and individuals around this region. I am presently a Special Assistant to the ruling political party in Ghana and also the legal representative of FIDELITY Ghana Plc. I hold an Honorable Doctoring degree in law, a Masters degree in business law and I am a fellow of local and international bodies.
My wealth of experience will be at your disposal for prompt and transparent business transactions in this part of the world. Please, get in touch with me for representation in all your business transactions in West Africa.* Hence, I have discuss with the CEO of UBA BANK Ghana Plc and the Foreign Remittance Department to see how helpful they can help to transfer this fund to your nominated bank account. However, I was made to understand that the total sum of the fund is 22 Euros million will credited online in your name which will enable you make easy transfer to your nominated bank account.
I also want to be your barrister here in Ghana to help you receive your fund without any delay ambassador give me your contact to contact you. I am awaiting your respond.
Yours In Service.
Barrister J.T. Dudu Esq
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