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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:
- "million us 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Christina Jouffrieau" <christ.jouffrieau@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Christina Jouffrieau" <christ_jouffrieau@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2015 12:41:22 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Dear beloved
Dear beloved
I touch you today as true that we do not know if it prevents this action on my part. My name is Mrs.Christina Jouffrieau born in France. The reason that drives me to you is:
I would go through your channel to do a work of anonymous charity in your area. I was born on January 19, 1949. It is a gift somehow and it rises to the sum of 7.8 million US Dollars. My marital status is such that I have no husband and even fewer children to whom I could pass on this legacy and I suffer now, a throat cancer and orphan disease incurable, That's why I want to so graceful and in order to help poor children give you that said legacy to carry out this charity.
I count on your goodwill and especially the proper use of these funds.
Waiting for your news, receive my cordial and fraternal greetings.
Sincerely and God bless you.
Mrs.Christina Jouffrieau
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Anti-fraud resources:
