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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:
- "million united states 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 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.
- moses_wong00@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Director Of Operations" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <moses_wong05@yahoo.cn>
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:11:28 -0700
Subject: Greetings
Dear Partner,
greetings to you.
I have a business proposal for you. My name is Moses Wong the Director of
operations of my bank. My client a Businessman and a Merchant in Sudan,
made a fixed deposit for Ten Million United States dollars for 36 months
with my bank.
Upon maturity several notices were sent to him. It was later discovered that
he and his entire family were killed in suicide bombing leaving no heir/family
member to these fund. According to the to the laws of my country at the
expiration 3 years which has currently exceeded, the funds will revert to the
ownership of the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.
I have already succeeded in transferring the funds out of my country to an
online bank awaiting claims for an heir with same surname(where you come in)
to help me apply to take custody of the funds, my proposal is to put you as
next of kin and have the funds released to you from the online bank for a share
in the ratio 50% each. All paper works would be put in place from my end to
ensure a legal inheritance.
However I would be waiting your response and assurance that you can be of
partnership with me in making the project a reality. Should you be interested
in executing this proposal with me; please kindly reply me with your full
name and current address and telephone number on my e-mail address below:
moses_wong00@yahoo.com.hk
Finally after that I shall provide you with more details of this whole
operation.
Sincerely,
Moses Wong.
Director of Operations
Email:moses_wong00@yahoo.com.hk
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