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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:
- "million dollars" (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.)
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- 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.
- wrkojo.esq@yahoo.com (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: William R Kojo Esq <limarappresentanze@alice.it>
Reply-To: info.kelshyfed@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2017 00:26:41 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Treat as Urgent From Ecowas Attorney General
Treat as Urgent From Ecowas Attorney General
Attention: Esteemed Client,
This is to officially announce to you that after the Eco-was Executive Board Meetings yesterday with US Ambassador Honorable William Stuart Symington and Africa Union Chairman in-collaborations with ECO-WAS Executive Board Authorities, has concluded and approved that your long awaited outstanding inheritance scammed victim Eco-was Re-fund compensation payment worth US$3.8 Million Dollars be transferred to Kelshy Federal Credit Union for onward remittance directly into your Bank Account in your location through their Online E-banking Transfer System without any further delay.
Below is the contact directory information, to contact Kelshy Federal Credit Union for the final Transfer of your long awaited outstanding Payment mentioned above.
Director: Mr. Paul Geoffrey
Bank Name: Kelshy Federal Credit Union
Address: 2000 14th Street, N.W., 2nd Floor.
E-mail: lnfo-kelshyfed@outlook.com
****************************** ************
Looking forward to your urgent email response with good news
You're sincerely
Ecowas Attorney General
Barrister Williams Isaac R. Kojo Esq
E-mail: wrkojo.esq@yahoo.com
Telephone #: +234 90 78 74 71 99
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