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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:
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Miss Christelle Kalou <kalouchristelle0@gmail.com>
Reply-To: kalouchristelle00@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2013 07:51:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Miss Christelle
Good Day,
I am Christelle Kalou from Ivory Coast in west Africa, It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture, there is this huge amount of money (US$8 million) which my late Father Mathew Kalou kept for me in a bank here in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire before he was assassinated by unknown persons maybe the Rebels.
Now I decided to invest this money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside this country for security purposes. I want you to help me to transfer this money to your country for investment purposes on the following below or in any investment of your choice.
1). Telecommunication..2). International School..3). Five star hotel..4). Real estate 5). Importing and Exporting
If you can be of an assistance to me i will be pleased to offer to you 10% of the total sum, I will give you more details about me and this fund once i get your reply.
Thanks and waiting your soonest response.
Miss Christelle Kalou.
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Anti-fraud resources:
