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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: PAYMENT FUND <adborgng902@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2022 11:25:36 -0700
Subject: FROM THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT
FROM THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT
OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC NIGERIA.
Dear sir
WE PAY VIA WIRE TRANSFER OR OR ATM MASTER CARD/ONLINE
This is to let you know that the federal government of Nigeria has
given an irrevocable and unconditional powers to us the
federal high Court of Nigeria to grant WAIVERS to anyone who has found
it difficult to pay the fees charged in Africa for the
release of foreign payments value $10.5m usd
The Waiver will enable you to give a sign of relief from not going to
pay any more fee till you claim your payment that originated from
Africa.After the waiver is signed we will take a copy of the waiver to
the bank that will release your funds and that gives your payment a
strong legal backing.
If you are interested in getting the waiver and receiving your payment
whin 72hrs, kindly confirm by writing to us via this email only so as
to enable us to issue and sign your waiver like others are doing now
Be inform that to obtain the {WAIVER DEDUCTION} will cost you only
the sum of $50 to enable us enable us deduct any other charges
associated with your fund
As soon as we hear from you a waiver form will be attached and sent to
you for you to fill and return back to us for completion of the WAIVER
application.
Thanks for your understanding and happy year 2022.
Yours sincerely,
CONGRATULATION
Mohammed Mahmoud.
ATTORNEY GENERAL FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
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