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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:
- "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Dashu Wang" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <xiawangsteel@outlook.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:42:10 -0700
Subject: Your Service is Needed
Hello,
Huadian Power International One of the largest manufacturer
of power plants product needs your services as an account receivable agent
to our customers in Canada and USA on a 12 months contract basis,
You will be responsible for collection of all account receivables due
to the Steel Company in the above region to directly support sales
operations., it's part time job that takes less than an hour of your
time daily with a 5% commission and $4,900 monthly salary
payment.
I understand this is not your area of expertise,
I have also reviewed your profile on LinkedIn and knowing
your eligibility to help the company help fulfill one of
its major goal this is the reason I have reach out to you.
Regards
Dashu Wang
International Business Consultant
Huadian Power International
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Anti-fraud resources:
