419 scam: "Helen Lamin" <lee@woign225b.homepage.t-online.de> CONSIDER THIS MAIL VERY IMPORTANT AND GET BACK TO ME QUICKLY

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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:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "a security company " (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. )
- "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)
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.
- helen_lamin@aol.com (AOL; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "Helen Lamin" <lee@woign225b.homepage.t-online.de>
Reply-To: <helen_lamin@aol.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 10:44:11 -0700
Subject: CONSIDER THIS MAIL VERY IMPORTANT AND GET BACK TO ME QUICKLY

Hello,

PLEASE, CONSIDER THIS MAIL VERY IMPORTANT AND GET BACK TO ME QUICKLY:

I got your contact via peoples search and thought I should discuss the INVESTMENT PROPOSAL WITH YOU, which I know will interest and benefit you.

My name is Ms Helen Lamin and I am 28 years of age. I presently live in Accra-Ghana as a refugee. I am originally from Sierra Leone, a neighboring country but relocated to Ghana during the rebel war in my country that took the lives of so many people..

Before the war, I inherited $12.7 million dollars from my late father who died the cause of the war and the money was deposited in a security company in Spain by my late father..I have the deposit certificate which I can show you as we get to know better..MY father made the amount from gold and diamond trade which flourish for him at that time..My home country was not safe for his to keep his money, so he took the money to Spain, being one of his trade destination countries.

The money is there to be invested by me in any country of my choice..I have been processing the clearance papers to have to money released to me by Spanish government and I am almost through with the legal documents..I have paid the security company the safe keeping amount till date and only just need to finalize the clearance with the government..

If you are interested in investing with me, I will need you to give me information about your self to enable me determine how to proceed further with you. Since I do not have any experience concerning money and investment, so I will like you to help me with your experience to invest in your country.

If we conclude partnership arrangements, I will communicate with the Security Company and tell them about you as my appointed trustee and representative and they will inform us what will be required to get the money transferred to your country.

PLEASE, DO SEND ME YOUR CONTACT PHONE NUMBER AND I WILL CALL YOU FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS. My personal email to reach me is helen_lamin@aol.com

Thank you and do have a wonderful day.

Helen Lamin.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam