419 scam: stella dokie <stelladokie@gmail.com> Dear Helper,Crying for your help.

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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:

The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "moneygram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
MoneyGram money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. Along with Western Union it is a preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +22999782346 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- stelladokie1@hotmail.fr (Hotmail, France; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: stella dokie <stelladokie@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 15:35:53 +0100
Subject: Dear Helper,Crying for your help.

Dear Helper,

I am asking for a help of €1,175 ( One thousand, one hundred and
seventy-five Euros ) to treat my little sister's sickness who is
ASTHMATIC, lying down at the Benin General Hospital bed for the past
two weeks now because the Doctor have refused to treat her until this
€1,175 is paid completely.

We are Ivorian Refugee's,that ran down here in Cotonou, Benin Republic
for our dearly lives for some month's now after the War started in
Abidjan city,Ivory Coast, caused by former President LAURENT GBAOGBO,
and before his arrested by the UNITED NATIONS.We have no Father and no
Mother as the war started, everybody find his and her way for
safety.Kindly help for God will surely help you by sending the €1,175
directly in the name of the Doctor,IFEANYICHUKWU MANUAGWU JEROME
through moneygram, then send me the REFERENCE NUMBERS only by mail so
that he CAN start treatment immediately today as my little sister's
life is entering into dangerous position.Even if the €1,175 is not
completed to send, I WILL APPRECIATE ANY AMOUNT SENT TO ME BY YOU, NO
MATTER HOW SMALL OR BIG, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER,for a begger
have no choice.
DIRECTIVES:
sender name (insert your sender name here)
receiver name/ IFEANYICHUKWU MANUAGWU JEROME
amount/ €1,175
REFERENCE NUMBERS/
text question/ TODAY
text answer/ YES
city/ COTONOU
country/ BENIN REPUBLIC,WEST/AFRICA
telephone/ +229 99 78 23 46

MAY THIS CRY TOUCH YOUR HEART, God bless you and your families as you
endeavour to help.Enclosed by attachment is photograph at your study
and shall be sending your picture of how-life is here at this Camp,
how people are suffering and ieing everyday by day.

God bless you as you endeavours to help.

Sincerely,

Miss STELLA DOKIE
stelladokie1@hotmail.fr

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam