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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:
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "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.
- 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.
- margaretchristopher98@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Margaret Christopher <margaretchristopher98@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2022 02:08:34 +1200
Subject: Hi dear
Hello Dear,
Good afternoon and how are you doing today?.
Well I am
Margaret Christopher from Togo and I’m a member /staff a of ECOWAS UNION I
hereby to inform you that the ECOWAS UNION has nominated your email address
to receive the total sum of $1.8 million dollars from ECOWAS COMPENSATION
CONTRACT INHERITANCE FUND of your lose which the ECOWAS have decide to
compensate you and your family with the total sum of $1.8 million dollars
OK, and the most reason while ECOWAS UNION decide organized this program is
to reach out to you and to support you in this hard time of COVID-19
pandemic.
Finally, I will be waiting urgently here to receive your reply, so that it
will enable me to guide you on how your compensation fund of total sum $1.8
million dollars will be transferred direct to your local account in your
country, and here is my email address and you are advice to contact me
through this email: (margaretchristopher98@gmail.com).
Thanks and I wish you all the best
My Regards
Mr. Margaret Christopher
Ecowas compensation contract awarding fund committee
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Anti-fraud resources:
