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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:
- ",500,000" (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)
- "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal trying to scam you - arrests of online criminals are rare)
- 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.
- mr.12cheng@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Vincent Cheng" <bag.organisasi@kendalkab.go.id>
Reply-To: mr.12cheng@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:22:43 +0700 (WIT)
Subject: Your Earliest Response Is Needed
Good Day.
My name is Mr Vincent Hoi Cheng (Chairman Hong Kong and Shangai Banking
Coporation), I have a business proposal for you that will be beneficial
to the both of us.
Gen. Abdelaziz Ali of the Iraqi Army and businessman made a fixed deposit
of twenty one million five hundred thousand dollars($21,500,000) in my
bank. We later found out that the General along with his wife and only
daughter had been killed during the war in a bomb blast that hit their
home. I want you to assist me in transfering this funds out of my bank. I
have everything planned out so that we shall come out successful. There is
no risk involved at all in this matter. We will share at the ratio of 60%
for me and 40% for you.
All I need from you is your readiness and trustworthiness. I would give you
more information on how we would handle this venture.
Contact me through this email: mr.12cheng@yahoo.com.hk
Kind Regards,
Vincent Cheng
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Anti-fraud resources:
