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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:
- "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. )
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "high court" (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.
- 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 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.
- highcourtofecowasbeninbranch@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Timothy Lowenberg <timothylowenberg78@gmail.com>
Reply-To: highcourtofecowasbeninbranch@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2022 11:49:18 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY DEAR
FROM HIGH COURT OF ECOWAS RB BRANCH:
B/OP/1234 PLOT AKPAKPA, BENIN
OUR REF.CODE: BSEL/773/AWN/021/09
Your Attention Please:
Please my dear the entire High Court Of Eco-was Benin are here to make
it clear to you that there was a case that was been handling in this
ECO-WAS since January 2021 concerning your Inheritance funds because
we got some reports that you did not receive your Inheritance funds
since after various stories you heard regarding the funds and all type
of payments you have paid to receive the funds but none is received by
you.
So we are hereby to know the truth because the person in charge of the
transaction said in this court that you have received your funds and
he confirmed it, that you received your compensation funds worth of
$4.5Million United Dollars.
(1)Do you receive any money from Africa............?
(2)If you received money from him, how much.............?
(3)Through which way, bank or courier, do you receive the money from?
(4) Is it true that you received money through western union.......?
(5) In which date or year......................?
(6)Which authorities approve the file.............?
If you have not received your Funds this High Court will make sure you
receive it within the next 48hours once you comply with us. Respond to
us through this Email.( highcourtofecowasbeninbranch@yahoo.com )
Thanks.
Best Regard.
FROM HIGH COURT BENIN
Barr.Scotty Miller
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