419 scam: "Sinosteel Industry" <info@sinosteel.com> Dear Prospective Representative,

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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: "Sinosteel Industry" <info@sinosteel.com>
Reply-To: dr.jlvangenderen7777@live.com
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:15:42 -0500
Subject: Dear Prospective Representative,

Dear Prospective Representative,

Am Dr.John Van Genderen ,a Chinese business man. We are the maker SINO-STEEL INDUSTRY
& TRADE GROUP CORPORATION (SSIT) is a leading Chinese exporting corporation
and Commercial Center in metallurgical industry, which represents exclusively
and organizes comprehensively for global market with 5 major design
institutes,and 22 Due to our ever-increasing Customers we are searching for
representatives in these Regions/Provinces to assist us inestablishing a
medium to connect to our Customers more efficiently as it is now.(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 in into
Canada, the United States of America,Europe and Australia prefer to pay us
with cheque rather than cash. We have numerous customers in Canada, the
United States of America,Europe and Australia 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 be
entitled to a monthly salary and this shall be a continuous process.

Please if you are interested in transacting business with us, we will be very
glad.
Subject to your satisfaction you will be given the opportunity to negotiate
your mode which we will pay you for your services as our representative in
Canada, the United States of America, Europe and Australia.

Please to indicate your interests please send to us the following information
about yourself.

1.Full names
2.Age
3.Sex
4.Marital Status:
5.Present occupation (Company And position)
6.Phone number/fax
7.Full contact address (not P. O. Box)

Thanks In advance
Yours sincerely,
Dr.John Van Genderen

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam