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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "processing expenses" (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. )
- "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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- godwinjo1997@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Godwin Joshua" <godwinjohnjo1967@gmail.com>
Reply-To: godwinjo9097@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2021 21:45:36 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend
Dear Friend,
I am the Chairman of this review committee and we are in charge of
executing developmental projects under the (UNDP/EU/EOTF)
across Western Africa Nations . We have a contracts originally awarded
to a non- indigenous company who has failed to execute
the project accordingly and was therefore terminated. We have also
some companies that has finished their jobs and left. It is in
our routine system to terminate and recruit companies to execute contracts.
I have the co-operation and mandate of the Financial Director and the
Secretary of the commission to invite you for a deal.
It was our consensus agreement to seek the assistance of a willing
foreign proficient company to handle this deal effectively.
The original contractors has been signed off and the ministry is eager
to re-award contract for immediate execution.
We intend to push out this accumulated fund made through over-in
inflation of contract values and abandoned jobs now as the
organization wish to commence new face projects next soon.
If you are interested and capable, because we can note that you being
a registered contractor would be of better in position to
effect this claim. The total amount is valued at about $97.5million
dollars to be shared between 3 of us here and you being our
executing partner. We agreed to give you 30% of the total amount, 3 of
us will share the 65% while 5% will be reserved to repay
all processing expenses thereafter.
kindly notify us if you can handle this deal so that we can advice you
on what to do.
followings;
We solicit for your unreserved confidentiality and proficient
co-operation in this project. Please reply me immediately for more
details on how to proceed.
Yours Faithfully.
Hon. Mr.
godwinjo1997@gmail.com
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