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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:
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Phan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mr.phanho@rediffmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 16:24:37 +0700
Subject: FROM MR PHAN
Dear Friend,
My position as an account manager in Foreign Trade Bank has made me to have access to files and products that can help you if you are in one way or the other interested in South East Asia business connections.
In April 2006, Lu Yunpeng, a multimillionaire and president of Henan-based Yunpeng Cultural Development Co Ltd China moved some cash through our Banking system from Europe . The fund arrived in South East Asia during the time Lu Yunpeng was been tried for murder in China . As his account officer he instructed that I should put a hold on the fund that was supposed to go to China pending on the outcome of his trial.
In May 2006 he was sentenced to death and the fund remained unclaimed till date.As his account officer I was aware that nobody knows about this fund movement except his cousin who was also sentenced to death with him.
Please see: http://en.ce.cn/National/Local/200605/18/t20060518_7005764.shtml
I want to utilize this opportunity and make use of this fund. I want to work with you on it. The amount involved is in millions and I will tell you the exact figure when I hear from you.
Please reply back and lets benefit from this golden opportunity. You are my first contact. I shall wait three days and if I do not hear from you, I shall look for another person.
Sincerely,
Mr Phan Ho.
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Anti-fraud resources:
