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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:
- "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
- This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
Fraud email example:
From: Viviane Fall <viviane_fall24@ssummail.com>
Reply-To: vivianefall@live.fr
Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 04:07:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Accept this offer for the less privileges
Dearest in christ,
PLEASE ENDEAVOUR TO USE IT FOR THE CHILDREN OF GOD.I am the above named person from Sierra leone. I am married to Dr Ousmane Fall who worked with Sierra leone embassy in South Africa for nine years before he died in the year 2007.We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of$5.5 M.(five million five hundred thousand U.S.Dollars) packed in a metallic box deposited as a family valuables with security firm here in Cote d' I voire here. Presently, this money is still with the security firm here in Cote d'Ivoire.The securityfirm they are waiting for me to produce some one who stand as my foreign partner and they will be released the box to him this is why I am soliciting for your assistance.
My Doctor told me that my chances of living is limited but.Though what disturbs me most is my stroke.Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to individual that will utilize it well for God and for the less privileges the way I am going to instruct here in.I want this fund to be used to sponsor ,orphanages, less privilege once. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not in good terms with me because of my husbands wealth they are trying by all means to collect the documents of this funds and kill me.
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 am not afraid of death hence I know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of God. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health,and because of 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.
For your noble assistance to help me claim this box from the security firm as our foreign partner as the box was deposited by my husband. i have decided to offer you %30 of the total fund. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the security firm for you to contact them for the release of the box. I will also issue you a letter of authorization that will empower you as the original- beneficiary of the box. I want you and your family to always pray for me.
My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy person. Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hoping to hear from you soon to give you directives on how to receive the box.
To God be the glory remain blessed you and your family.
Yours sister
Viviane fall.
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