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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "keep this confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Lovelin Vincent <mrslovelinv3@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Lovelin Vincent <lovelinevincent1@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2015 14:41:16 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Dearest Respectful Beloved
Dearest Respectful Beloved ,
I
am sending you this mail with sorrow in my heart hoping that you will
help me out in the name of God. Although that we have not meet each
other before but I believe that a good relationship starts only by one
day. My name is Lovelin Vincent. I am 20 years old orphan from Sierra
Leone but writing you presently from Cote D'Ivoire. I have no relative
in this world and I want you to be my guardian.
I decided to
contact you to stand by my side to secure the sum of (USD$3.1M) I
Inherited from my late father. My late Father was a Rich Business man
based here in Cote D'Ivoire but he was killed on 26th of January 2011 by
the rebels force in bouake during the war in Cote D'Ivoire here. I hope
you are aware of the war which has ravaged this country Cote D'Ivoire
for the past years now .It was in one of this attacks by the rebels that
led to the death of my Father. My Father left the sum of ($3.1M) in a
bank here before he died.
I urgently need your assistance to
transfer this (US$3.1M) into your account and also help me to establish
the money in a good investment in your country as you will be the care
taker as well you will help me to come over to your country so that i
can continue my education there and to live with you and your family. I
am offering you 20% for your assistance in this particular transaction
and also you will map out like $300,000.00 USD for donation to the
charity homes and Churches there so that the name of God may glorify.
I
promise you that there is no risky issue in this transaction and you
will never regret helping me out always ask God direction in this
transaction. I will also like you to keep this confidential and secret
for the safety of my money and my life till the money is been transfer
to you by the bank. If you have any question do not hesitate to
question it in your reply email.
Please
if the spirit touch you to help me out i will like you to forward the
following information to me so that i will submit it to the bank for the
release of my money to you.
1.Your full name.
2.Direct tel and fax numbers.
3.Home and Office address.
4.Your occupation
5.Your age
Please
i have prayed before contacting you with the trust in God that you will
be of help to me. I am seeking your assistance to transfer this money
to your for good investment projects in your country,
(1) I want you to serve as a guardian of this fund since i am only 20 years old.
(2)
To make arrangement for me to come over to your country to further my
education and to secure a resident permit in your country.
God
bless you and your family as you hear the cry of an orphan and help me
out. I will be waiting to hear from you as soon as possible so that i
can inform the bank about you and for them to contact you for the
transferring my money to you immediately so that i can leave here for
the safety of my life.
Sincerely Daughter,
Miss Lovelin Vincent.
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