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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:
- "hundred thousand 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Young Kim" <info_kimyoung@yahoo.com.hk>
Reply-To: info_youngkim@hangseng-online.com
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 04:23:12 -0500
Subject: Greetings!!
Greetings!!
My name is Mr. Young Kim, I work with the Hang Seng Bank. There is a sum of
Nineteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($19.500, 000.00)
in my bank Hang Seng Bank ", Hong Kong. There were no beneficiaries stated
concerning this funds which means no one would ever come to claim it.
That is why I ask that we work together. I must first make an apology for this
unsolicited mail to you. I am conscious that this is certainly not a
predictable
way of approach to foster a relationship of trust but because of the
circumstances and urgency surrounding this claim I decided to reach
you via this
media to join me to put claims on this funds.
Actually I got your contact from Hong Kong commerce and Industry, during my
discrete online search through a web based directory while searching for a
foreign partner to execute this project together. This is where all individual
and business contact is kept. Please do not be offended with the manner I
contacted you. It was necessitated by the urgency and nature of this
transaction.
I do solicit for your assistance in effecting this transaction. I
intend to give
30% of the total funds as compensation for your assistance. I will
notify you on
the full transaction on receipt of your response if interested, and I
shall send
you the details and necessary procedures with which to make the
transfer. I will
prefer you reach me on my private email address
(info_youngkim@hangseng-online.com).
Should you be interested? Please send me your:
1. Full names
2. Private phone number
3. Current residential address
Please get back to me to ascertain whether you are interested or not
so I could
search for another Partner.
Kind Regards,
Mr. Young Kim
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