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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:
- "good day friend" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- "(ecowas)" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "lome togo" (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.
- 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.
- patrikokotg@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Patrick" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patriekokotg@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Jul 2022 06:25:26 +0100
Subject: How Are You?
OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN
CONTRACT AWARD &
PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE,
ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF
WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS)
ANNEX,LOME REPUBLIC OF TOGO.
"Strictly confidential"
ACCOUNT PROVISION FOR USD 16.5 MILLION
Good day friend, I want to apologies for contacting you without your knowledge, before I proceed further my Name is Mr. Patrick from Togo, I am the Chairman Contract Awarding Committee of the Economic of West African States Ecowas here in Lome Togo.
The main purpose of contacting you is to carry out strictly confidential business transaction with me that involves transfer of the sum of 16.5 Million dollar to a foreign bank account for that reason I contacted you to be my partner in this golden opportunity for the benefit of both of us and our family instead the money will remain with the my Organization.
Your help is needed to claim the money to your personal account or company account. You should not entertain any atom of fear towards my proposal to you it's risk free if you will stand by me to claim the money and I will stand to give you all the guideline with full support to have the money with our Organization and I don't mind how much it will cost me to see that the fund is approved in your name as long as you are willing to carry on with me. so kindly contact me on my email address: patrikokotg@gmail.com for more details or sends your direct phone number where I can reach you on.
Regards,
Mr. Patrick.
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