419 scam: "Mr.Cheng Wu."<webinfo1@wucheng.com.cn> Re: Hello

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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:
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
This email message is a company representative scam. This type of job offer scam involves the cashing of fake checks and money orders. It could expose you to losses of tens of thousands of dollars as well as to the risk of criminal prosecution and (in some cases) imprisonment.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Cheng Wu." (may be fake)
Reply-To: <chengwu190000@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 17:59:21 +0200
Subject: Re: Hello

Dear Prospective Representative,
I am Mr.Cheng Wu, Managing Director of WU ARTS AND CRAFTS IMPORT/EXPORT. CORP. China.
We are a group of business men who deal on Chinese Art and Craft and export world-wide.
We are searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium of getting to our customers as well as making payments through you to us.
Presently, we are faced with some problems most especially with our Payment methods as most clients we have prefer to pay us with cheque rather than cash. We find it very cumbersome in accepting such payments due to the new monetary policy in our banking systems here in China and this is crippling our business.
We have numerous customers like this and we cannot afford to loose them due to this problem.
We hereby request for your hand in partnership to act as our payment/Remittance Representatives, to act as our agents who shall receive payment on our behalf from our customers in your region.
You shall be entitled to 10% of each payment you receive on our behalf and this shall be a continuous process.
Please if you are interested in transacting business with us, we will be very glad. Please contact us for more information.
Subject to your satisfaction you will be given the opportunity to negotiate your mode of which we will pay you for your services as our representative in your region
Please to indicate your interests please send to us the following information about yourself.
1.Full names
2.Age
3.Sex
4.Present occupation (Company And position)
5.Phone number/fax
6.Full contact address (not P. O. Box).
Upon receipt of this requested information I shall provide you with the necessary details of how to become our representative.
Thanks In advance
Yours sincerely,
Mr.Cheng Wu.
Managing Director,
Wu arts and crafts.
China

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam