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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 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)
- "i got your email address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Francisca Matuidi <maribiakulibal11@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Francisca Matuidi <franciscamatuidi@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 06:39:16 +0900 (JST)
Subject: From.Mrs.Francisca Matuidi
My Dearest,
I got your email address from the internet during my search for an honest person and I contacted you personally because my heart tells me that you are the right person for these good intentions. My name is Mrs. Francisca  Matuidi. I am 48 years old woman and I am legally married to late Mr. Gabson Matuidi  My late husband is a citizen of Argentina  in south America and we lived here in West Africa (Ivory Coast) for the past 18 years ago. My late husband worked with the Petroci oil company as an expatriate here in Abidjan the economic capital of Ivory Coast and in Asian countries for many years before he died in February 9th 2010.We were married for 26 years without a child.
 My Husband left the sum of US$4.300 million United States Dollars in a fix/suspense account in one of the prime bank here in Cote d’Ivoire, Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not exceed more than five more months due to cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my blood pressure sickness. Presently this money is still with the bank and the management just wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward to receive the money or rather Issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf if I cannot come over.
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 I am presently in a hospital where I have been undergoing treatment Cancer of the lungs in a hospital, I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to Live. Please i want you to note that this money is laying in a Bank at Cote d’Ivoire.
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I want a person that is trustworthy that will utilize 80% of this money to fund orphanages and widows around the world but in my name "Mrs.Francisca  Matuidi" As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank. I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the new beneficiary of this fund.
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Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein and Keep this contact confidential till such a time this funds get to your Custody, this is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on Earth.
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Thanks and God bless you.
Sincerely Yours
Mrs.Mrs.Francisca  Matuidi
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