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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:
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- peteryong101@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR PETER WONG" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <peteryong101@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:36:17 +0100
Subject: PRIVATE MAIL
MR PETER WONG
HANG SENG BANK LTD
DES VOEUX RD.BRANCH,
CENTRAL HONG KONG ,
I am Mr.Peter Wong,Senior executive director
of Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have a concealed
business for you. General Hassan Fawzi
who was with the Iraqi forces and also
a business man made a number of fix deposit ,
with a value of Forty Four Million, Five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars
in my (bank) branch. Please listen very carefully.
i am looking for a very serious person
on the acceptance of this business.
General Hassan Fawzi and his family
died in a bomb blast that hit their home
during the war and i found out that
General Hassan Fawzi did not declare
any next of kin in his official papers
including the paper work of his bank
deposit. I just want you as a (foreigner)
to stand as the next of kin to Gen Hassan
Fawzi so that we will be able to receive
his funds where by you will be taken 50%
of his funds.i have also contacted an
attorney that will prepare the necessary
document that will back you up.
Listen this is very serious and if you are
really interested please reply to the below
address with the first step of the
following details below to proceed.
FULL NAMES:
CONTACT ADDRESS:
OCCUPATION:
GENDER:
PHONE:FAX:
CONTACT
Peter Wong ( peteryong101@gmail.com )
Regards,
Mr. Peter Wong
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