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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:
- "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.
Fraud email example:
From: "WILLIAMS OTUTUNZU" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamsotutunzu02@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2015 12:02:17 -0700
Subject: YOUR COMPENSATION 2.5MILLIONUSD
>From The Desk of Chief Judge Otutunzu willams
FROM HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS RB BRANCH
OB/OP/1234 PLOT AKPAKPA,NIGERIA.
OUR REF.CODE:BSEL/773/AWN/021/ 015
Attention Dear Beneficiary
Please 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
be paid 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 has received and
confirmed to him that you received your funds and we are here to hear
the truth from you.
Please here below 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)Did you receive any money from this person Robert ..........?.
(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 doing wrongs and all we are
going is to handle it at once and we need your reply so that we can
get the truth.
Thanks.
Best Regard.
Chief Judge willams Otutunzu
FROM HIGH COURT NIGERIA
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Anti-fraud resources:
