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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:
- "please indicate your interest" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "huge amount of money" (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)
- "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.
- hu_huimin005@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Huimin" <pamyatnykh@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: hu_huimin005@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 13:36:54 +0600
Subject: Trust In Our Partnership.
Good Day,
How are you and your family hope lovely.My name is Mrs. Hu Huimin account
officer Hang Seng Bank Ltd Kowloon Branch, Hong Kong.Two (2) years ago my
client .Mr Hussain Jaffar(Deceased Now) deposited $24.5 million dollars in
my bank with relevant documents with no next of kin attached to this
funds(REASONS UNKNOWN). News came that he was shut dead during the
uprising in Libya with further investigation proves that he left no next
of kin to his funds.I am honorably seeking your services in helping me act
as the next of kin so that you can invest the funds in your country and
also offer 10% of the funds to any orphanage of your choice as
HUMANITARIAN services.
Your Advise is very crucial as per the investment of the funds and will be
paid for.As an account officer, I can not operate any personal investment
till I am retired because of the Anti-corruption Bill passed in Hong
Kong,it is risky for a fixed income earner to own any huge amount of money
in Hong Kong or any foreign country. It is then advisable to invest in a
foreign land secretly and patiently wait for the dividend upon
retirement.I have carefully planned this out and all the necessary
information will be passed ac-crossed upon your contact, I will prefer we
make contact via mail as i cannot acknowledge any phone call.
Please indicate your interest by contacting me:hu_huimin005@yahoo.com.hk
Sincerely,
Mrs.Hu Huimin
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