419 scam: "MR. EDWARD CHEN"<helpdesk@speakeasy.net> BUSINESS PARTNER

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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:
- "inland revenue board" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "inland revenue board" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "inland revenue" (Tax offices mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. Even after you pay their fake tax demands you will still not receive the non-existent funds you have been promised. )
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +8613129317673 (China, prepaid mobile phone)
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.
- edwardch9@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- purposes no fax messaging please my private contact e-mail edwardch9@hotmail.com. 3) there should be no third parties as most problem (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. EDWARD CHEN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <edwardanch9@yahoo.com.cn>
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2010 19:44:57 +0800
Subject: BUSINESS PARTNER

Asia Foreign Contractors Settlement Centre
Peoples Republic of China.

Attention: Sir/Madam,

I feel quite safe dealing with you in this business proposition having gone
through your remarkable profile on the internet and as one of the leading profit
oriented companies which I intend investing part of my money into any profitable
business you will introduce.

Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you
through it because it still remains the fastest, surest and most secured medium
of communication.However,this Correspondence is unofficial and private, and it
should be treated as such. Before I introduce myself, I wish to inform you that
this letter is not a hoax or Scam mail and I urge you to treat it with the
seriousness it deserves. I also guarantee you that this business is hitch free
from all what you may think of.

I am Edward Chen, 44yrs, male, the Audit Manager Asia Foreign Contractor's Settlement Centre China Branch. My office monitors and controls all foreign contract settlement here in Hubei Province of China. I am the final signatory to every payment files for the remittance of huge funds moving within both on the local and international levels in line with foreign claim settlement. I have before me list of payment files, which have been identified
either as an over-invoiced sum or ghost file. On this note, I wish to have a
deal with you as regards to this unpaid funds as I have the file before me and
all datas are correct and it is my duty to recommend the transfer of these
surplus funds to the Chinese Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as
unclaimed entitlements, I have the opportunity to write you based on the
instructions received two days ago from the inland revenue board to submit the
List of payment reports/expenditures and audited reports of revenues before the
end of next week.
My Conditions:

1) After the processing of all relevant legal documents with your name as the
beneficiary, I will personally endorse your file here in my desk and the
sum of $20.5million USD will be insured and deposited with a bank here in China who
will then contact you and forward to you an procedure of account details setup in
your favor and once you receive the online email account details from the bank here in
China, you will immediately to the online account with the details
forwarded to you and personally make a direct transfer from the account to any choice
of account in your country and once you confirm the transfer, I will then fly
down to your country for my share and your advise on how I can invest into your
line of business. It's 50/50% percentage share

2) This business must be kept secret forever, and all correspondence will be
strictly by email and telephone for security purposes no fax messaging please my private contact e-mail edwardch9@hotmail.com.

3) There should be no third parties as most problem associated with foreign fund
release are caused by agents or representatives.If you AGREE with my conditions,
I want you to send your details,

FULL NAME;
RESIDENT ADDRESS;
NATIONALITY;
DATE OF BIRTH;
SEX;
OCCUPATION;
DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER;

where I can call you and discuss in details and the business
will commence without delay as I will proceed to fix your name on the Payment list
instantly before the end of next week. I hope you do not reject this offer and have your
funds transferred. Waiting for your reply soon.

Your's Faithfully,

Mr. Edward Chen.
Audit Manager .
Email : edwardanch9@yahoo.com.cn
Tel:+8613129317673.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam