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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. )
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "Chief Judge Usman Bello ESQ" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <revboilydevid@outlook.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2014 18:03:28 -0700
Subject: FROM ECOWAS HIGH COURT COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC .URGENT
FROM HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS WEST AFRICA BENIN BRANCH:
OB/OP/1234 PLOT AKPAKPA, COTONOU BENIN Republic
Attn
Please my dear , the entire High Court Of Ecowas West Africa Benin 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 you have 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 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)Did you receive any money from any bank here in Benin republic niether by atm card, check or bank to bank wire transfer ?
2)If you did receive money from the options stated above,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 Benin because we have been receiving news from your Government that our Government officials and personalities are scamming people and this court want to stop all this kind of CRIME which has been demanging the image of our country .Please we need your reply so that we can get the truth.
Thanks.
Best Regard.
Chief Judge Usman Bello ESQ
DIRECT LINE +22967008610
ECOWAS HIGH COURT COTONOU BENIN REPUBLIC
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