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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:
- "million 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)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
- 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.
- v13noel@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs Vivian Noel" <v5noel@marafiki.com>
Reply-To: v13noel@yahoo.ca
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2010 05:01:06 -0500
Subject: From Mrs Vivian Noel
Dearest,
I am Mrs Vivian Noel from Kuwait. I am married to Mr. Jerry Noel who
worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in
the year 2002. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died
after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my
matrimonial home. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of
US$4.5million dollars in a Bank here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. Presently,
this money is still in bank.
Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next Eight
months due to cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke
sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a
person or organization that will utilize this money the way I am going to
instruct herein. I want a person or organization that will use this fund
for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that
the house of God is maintained.
The Word Of God made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that
giveth". I took this decision because I don't have any child that will
inherit this money and my husband relatives are not trust worthy and I
don't want my husband's efforts to be used diabolically. I don't want a
situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I
am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence I know where I am
going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. I don't need
any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the
presence of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to
know about this development. With God all things are possible.
As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank
here in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. I will also issue you an authority letter
that will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund. I want you to
always pray for me because the lord is my shephard. My happiness is that I
lived a life of a worthy person. Whoever that Wants to serve the Lord must
serve him in spirit and Truth.
Please always be prayerful all through your life. Contact me on the this e
mail address: v13noel@yahoo.ca: any delay in your reply will give me room
in sourcing another person or organization for this same purpose. Please
assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.
Hoping to receive your reply.
Yours,
Mrs Vivian Noel.
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