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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:
- "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "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)
- "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a orphan scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Vivian Lobi <vivian.vivian@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: vivian70@yahoo.cn
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:08:12 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: PLEASE ASSIST ME FROM MISS VIVIAN LOBI
Miss Vivian Lobi
Dearest One,
I am writting this letter with due respect and heart full of tears, since we have not known or met ourselves previously.
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going to business relationship with you.
I got your contact from the International web site directory and i prayed over it and selected your name among other names believing that you are GOD Fearing person also hope that you will hear the cry of an ORPHAN like me.
I must not hesitate to confide in you for this simple and sincere business which we must build trust before we proceed.
I am Miss Vivian Lobi the only Daughter of late Mr and Mrs Peter Lobi . My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Bouake where he has a company and also in Abidjan the Economic capital of Ivory Coast before he was Poisoned to death by one of my Uncle who was his business associates on one of their outing for a business in a hotel on 30th June 2007.
While my mother died long ago on the 21st October 1984 in Treichvill General Hospital Abidjan, when i was still a kid. My father took me so Special because I am her only Daughter.
Before the death of my father on 30th June 2007 in a private hospital here in Abidjan. He secretly called me on his bedside and told me that he has a sum of $10.500.000 (Ten Million five hundred thousand U.S Dollars. ) Deposited in a Trust Bank in Abidjan,
My Dad told me that he used my name as his only Daughter for the next of kin in depositing the fund in the Bank and no body knows about it and you are the only one I am disclosing about it.
He also Explained to me that it was because of this Wealth and some huge amount of money my Uncle supposed to balance the company from the deal they heard together. That was the reason why my uncle poisoned his only brother and now has power to inherit my Father's wealth.
My late Father Adviced me to seek for a GOD fearing foreign person in a country of my choice where I will transfer this money and use it for investment and to further my education. I want to transfer this money to your Account and stay under your care.
Last week, the Bank manager called my Attention over the fund. So i want you to come and stand for me as my late Father foreign partner.
I am seeking your assistance in the following ways.
1) To make out time and contact the Bank in Abidjan where my late father deposited the fund.
2) To serve as the guardian of this fund since I am a girl and to assure me that I will be save when the money enters your care
3) To stay with you and continue my education while the fund will be invested.
Moreover Sir, I am willing to offer you 35% of the fund as compensation for your effort after the successful transfer of this fund to your Account.
Anticipating to hear from you soon as possible because i have made up my mind to Move out with the fund to start up my own life before my Uncle and the wife will kill me like they killed my Father.
I am expecting your urgent reply as soon as you receive this message.
Thanks.
Best Regards
Miss Vivian Lobi
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