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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 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)
- "princessstella38@live.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: princess stella cole <stella.cole6@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: princessstella38@live.com
Date: Fri, 7 May 2010 13:29:04 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: I wait your response .
GREETINGS DEAR!!
I COME TO YOU WITH A SINCERE HEART BELIEVING IN ALMIGHTY GOD THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER MY INVITATION AND COME TO HELP AND ALSO BENEFIT FROM ME.
This letter might surprise you because we have not met neither in person nor by correspondence. But I believe it is one day like today that you get to know somebody either in physical or through correspondence.
I am from Ivory Coast IN WEST AFRICA COTE D'IVOIRE, You and your organization were revealed as being quite astute in private entrepreneurship, one has no doubt in your ability to handle a financial business transaction.
Please I am ready AND delighted to have relationship with you if only you will welcome me to live with you in your country to Establish my Only inherited Fund of $5.5 million dollars .
Please, I request You kindly contact me via my address bellow with Your direct telephone/fax number/Photo Id All this information is needed to secure this Good relationship before i will open up to you about my late fathers fund of $5.5 million dollars which I inherited as next of kin.
If possible,I would suggest you visited me first in my country as i will like to meet you in person then we plan together or I after building more Trust with you I shall give the contact information's of the Security Firm were my Late Father Deposited the fund $5.5million dollars Before his death .
If you are interested on my request as a foreign body kindly contact me here = princessstella38@live.com
Immediately I hear from you I will forward the certificate of deposit of this fund to you for assurance and more proof of me so that you will see clearly that you are dealing with a honest and responsible Girl from decent family.
I wait your response .
Thank you and God bless you.
From Princess Stella Cole.
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