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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- 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 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.
- directorgeorgewilliams@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Office File <ofile995@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 10:33:56 +0100
Subject: From The Desk of Chief Judge George Williams
* From The Desk of Chief Judge George Williams FROM HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS RB
BRANCH OB/OP/1234 PLOT AKPAKPA,NIGERIA. OUR REF.CODE:BSEL/773/AWN/021/
2014 Direct E-mail:(directorgeorgewilliams@gmail.com
<directorgeorgewilliams@gmail.com>) Attention Honorable Beneficiary,
COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON. Please my dear the entire High Court Of Ecowas
Nigeria are here to make it to be clear to you that there was a case that
we have been handling here since concerning your funds because we got
some reports that you did not received your funds since after every story
you have being hearing regarding the funds and all types of payments you
have made to receive the funds but none is received by you. And we are
here to know the truth because the person that is in charge of the
transaction said in this court here that you have received and confirmed
to him that you received your funds and we are here to hear the truth from
you. Please here bellow is what we want you to answer to us to enable us
to handle this case normal the reporter said it has been done to you.
(1)Do you receive any money from this person Dr.Jerry Leo .........?. (2)If
you do receive money from him, how much.................? (3)From which
bank or courier do you received the money from...............? (4) Or is
it via western union money transfer.................... ..? (5) In which
date ... ........................... ....? Please we advise you to go
direct to this question above and answer us immediately because we want to
get the truth and at this time if you don't receive your funds, you will
receive it according to the instruction of this High Court Of Ecowas in
this Country Nigeria because we have been receiving news from your
Government that our Government officials and personalities are scamming
people of your Country and all that is what we are going to handle at once
and we need your reply so that we can get the truth. Thanks. Best Regard.
Chief Judge Williams George FROM HIGH COURT NIGERIA *
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