419 scam: "Sister Vivian Abou"<vivianabou@yandex.com> Greetings to you and your family in the name of God.

joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter!
Free trial for 30 days

Home

About Us

Spam

419/Nigeria

Fraud

Contact

"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:
- "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "hundred thousand us 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)
- "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "god-fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- "vivian.abou@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Sister Vivian Abou" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <vivianabou@mail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2016 17:35:38 -0400
Subject: Greetings to you and your family in the name of God.

Dear Beloved,
Greetings to you and your family in the name of God.

This mail might come to you as a surprise and the temptation to ignore it as unserious could come into your mind but please consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility. I choose to reach you through here because it still remains the fastest medium of communication.

It is by the grace of God that I received Christ, having known the truth, I had no choice than to do what is lawful and just in the sight of God for eternal life and in the sight of man for witness of God & is Mercies and glory upon my life.

My names are Mrs Vivian Abou who got married to a a citizen of Kuwait who worked with the Chevron/Texaco in Ivorycoast for three years before he died in the year 2014.We were married for three years without a child.

My Husband died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we both got born-again and dedicated christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is strongly against..When my late husband was alive we deposited the sum of Four Million, Seven Hundred Thousand US Dollars with a Bank, in the UNITED KINGDOM.

Presently, this money is still with the Bank and the management just wrote me as the beneficiary that our account has been DORMANT and if I, as the beneficairy of the funds, do not re-activate the account; the funds will be CONFISCATED or I rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf (note that you need to activate this account) as I can not come over.

Presently, I have been admitted to one of the general hospitals in Ivorycoast where I have been undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to cancer problem,Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church,organization or good person that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein.

I want a church,organization or good person that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained,because relatives and friends have plundered so much of our wealth since my illness,I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them.

Please, I beg you in the name of God to help me Stand-in as the beneficiary and collect the Funds from the Bank.I want a person that is God-fearing who will use this money to fund churches,orphanages and widows propagating the word of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained.

The Bible 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's relatives are not true Christians and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers.

I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I will also issue you a letter of authority and the deposit certificate of the money that will prove you as the new beneficiary of my fund. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein.

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.Exodus 14 VS 14 says that "the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact to the bank.I will also issue you an authority letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of this fund.

I want you and the church or the organization to always pray for me because the lord is my shepherd.

My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian.

Whoever that Wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth.Please always be prayerful all through your life. If you are interested in help me fullfill this dream and wish, you can email to my personal email:(vivian.abou@outlook.com )

Any delay in your reply will give me room in searching for another church or individual for this same purpose.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein and ensure no one else knows about this fund.

Hoping to receive your response immedaitely.

Thanks and Remain blessed in the Lord.

Sister Vivian Abou

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam