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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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.
- 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.
- celine_tagro@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Celine Tagro" <celinetagro7@t-online.de>
Reply-To: celine_tagro@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 11:30:42 +0100
Subject: Please assist me
>From Celine Tagro,
I am Celine Tagro (22 years old girl) the only surviving daughter of late Mr.Edward Tagro. I am in possession of some documents covering the deposit of US$2.5 Million (TWO million, five hundred thousand United States dollars) that my late father deposited in one of the bank here. This fund is of no criminal origin as it was realized from my late fatherâs business.
I am soliciting for your kind assistance in claiming this fund from the bank here as my late father's business associate and have it transferred to your account in your country for investment to enable me continue my education and to reside there in your country. You will also serve as the guardian to this fund as Iâm not at all knowledgeable in the international business world. I am just 22 years old a university undergraduate, I will give you further details as soon as I hear from you and we will discuss terms and percentage subsequently but you must treat highly confidential.
Hoping to hearing from you soon. May God bless you as you extend your helping hand to the needy.
Please reply back to me through my private email address for my security reason
( celine_tagro@yahoo.fr )
Awaiting for your response
Best wishes
Miss Celine Tagro
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