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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:
- "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- bellacoulilbaly@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: Miss Bella <bellacoulibally@gmail.com>
Reply-To: bellacoulilbaly@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2021 01:48:23 +0100
Subject: Beloved Friend
Beloved Friend,
I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we haven't known or
come across each other before considering the fact that I sourced your
email contact through the Internet in search of trusted person who can
assist me.
I am Miss Bella Ibrahim Coulibaly 24 years old female from the Republic of
Ivory Coast, West Africa ,am the Daughter of Late Chief Sgt.Warlord Ibrahim
Coulibaly (a.k.a General IB ). My late father was a well-known Ivory Coast
militia leader. He died on Thursday 28 April 2011 following a fight with
the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast(FRCI).
I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment which I am
receiving from my step mother. She planned to take away all my late
father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my
beloved Father. Meanwhile I wanted to travel to Europe, but she hide away
my international passport and other valuable documents. Luckily she did not
discover where I kept my father's File which contained important documents.
Now I am presently staying in the Mission in Burkina Faso.I am seeking for
long term relationship and investment assistance. My father of blessed
memory deposited the sum of US$ 27.5 Million in one bank in Burkina Faso
with my name as the next of kin.
I had contacted the Bank to clear the deposit but the Branch Manager told
me that being a refugee, my status according to the local law does not
authorize me to carry out the operation. However, he advised me to provide
a trustee who will stand on my behalf.
I had wanted to inform my stepmother about this deposit but I am afraid
that she will not offer me anything after the release of the
money.Therefore; I decide to seek for your help in transferring the money
into your bank account while I will relocate to your country and settle
down with you.
As you indicated your interest to help me I will give you the account
number and the contact of the bank where my late beloved father deposited
the money with my name as the next of kin. It is my intention to compensate
you with 40% of the total money for your assistance and the balance shall
be my investment in any profitable venture which you will recommend to me
as have no any idea about foreign investment.
Please all communications should be through this email address for
confidential purposes (bellacoulilbaly@gmail.com).
Thanking you a lot in anticipation of your quick response. I will give you
details in my next mail after receiving your acceptance mail to help me.
Yours Sincerely Miss Bella Ibrahim Coulibaly
(bellacoulilbaly@gmail.com)
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