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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:
- "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. )
- "money gram" (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 united state 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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "mr.jamesfentwitle_usambassador@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- "mr.jamesfentwitle_usambassador@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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 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.
- dikeefe_32@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "FROM U.S AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA" <priveryoffice@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To:
"FROM U.S AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA" <mr.jamesfentwitle_usambassador@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 19:23:30 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: OFFICE OF U.S AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
 FROM U.S AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
PLOT 1075 DIPLOMATIC DRIVE
CENTRAL DISTRICT AREA, ABUJA
PHONE: +234-9038752181
EMAIL ADDRESS: (mr.jamesfentwitle_usambassador@outlook.com)
Dear: Beneficiary,
After an official meeting held with the President of Nigeria President Good Luck Jonathan and Minister of Finance Miss Ngozi Okonjo Iweala concerning unpaid and unclaimed funds to foreign beneficiaries, I was very much annoyed when I found out from your file that you paid so much money yet you have not still receive your compensation funds. For that reason I have decided to help personal get you’re fund to you.
My Name is Ambassador James F. Entwistle the present U.S ambassador to Nigeria I shall be coming to Florida by next week for an official meeting and I will be bringing your bank draft of $5million (five million united state dollars only) which the Federal Ministry of Finance has approved on your Name. I shall be coming along with the check through the United States diplomatic mission to Florida. This time I will not go through customs because as a U.S ambassador to Nigeria, I am a U.S Government agent and I have the veto power to go through any U.S customs.
I have help three beneficiaries from united state of America this year to get there fund without any problem and you are the fourth person I am helping now. The three individual who has already receive the fund through my assistance are bellow
Mrs. Judith B Holly---------- Maryland USA
Mr. Chales Ortrize-------------Florida USA
Miss. Marlyna Jones --------Atlantic Georgia
The above mentioned are the three persons who has received there fund by my assistance this year and I cant see why yours will not be possible. Base on that you are to send me your bellow information for the delivery of your fund by next week Tuesday as soon as I come for the meeting.
Your details required are bellow.
1. Your full name
2. Cell phone number
3. Address where you want me to bring the package).
I know quit well from your file that you have really paid so much on this delivery that makes me wonder. You are a very lucky person because I shall be bringing it myself and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Your package (US$5m) must be registered as an ambassadorial package for me to defeat all odds. The cost of registering is just $135 as paid by orders who just receive there fund presently. The fee must be paid in the next 72 hours via western union or money gram so that all necessary arrangement can be made before time will be against us.
You are to contact my secretary Mr. Dike Efe for the registration of the check:
Contact Name: Mr. Dike Efe
Mobile Phone: +234-9038752181
Contact Email: dikeefe_32@yahoo.com.hk
Please contact my secretary with his information stated and send him the $135 for the registration of the check before next week which I will be coming to USA. I shall send you my flight schedule as soon as the registration is done for you to know when exactly I will be in Florida. you can go through my website and read biography: ( http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/biography.html )
Note: as soon as I arrive to Florida I will call you so that immediately I finished with my meeting on Tuesday, I will be coming to your address to hand over the check to you and also to let you know that I will be going to your bank with you to deposit the check with all the approved document backing up the check and I will make sure the check clear in 3days before I live.
Email me on ( mr.jamesfentwitle_usambassador@outlook.com) or contact me on +234-808-988-3750
YOURS SINCERELY
AMBASSADOR JAMES F. ENTWISTLE
U.S AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA
PHONE: +234-9038752181
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