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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:
- 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:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "% 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. )
- "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- 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.
- 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.
- ltd.benxisteelcompanychn@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "ltd.benxisteelcompanychn@china.com" <officepaymen-----c@att.net>
Reply-To: ltd.benxisteelcompanychn@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:28:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: MR.SHOU FANG
BENXI STEEL COMPANY LTD.
15 XIWAI DAJIE XINXING DONGXIANG
ZHOUJI HUAQIAO JIUDIAN RM 1312
CHINA 100044.
EMAIL: ltd.benxisteelcompanychn@yahoo.com.hk
WEBSITE: www.bxsteel.com
Dear Friend of Business Endeavor,
Greetings to you and your family. My name is Mr.Shou Fang, the Chairman and CEO of Benxi Steel Company Limited.Our Company is a steel manufacturing Company which has a standardized office here in China. Our product include mild steel round bars,high-yield deformed bars, light section and wire rods ranging from very low carbon to high carbon and cold heading steel. Recently our profit has increased so much that we decided to expand globally.
In view of our global expansion we are searching for representatives who can help us establish a medium of getting to our customers in Europe and America as well as making payments through you as our payment officer.
The reason we seek your urgent assistance is that most of our customers make payment in check; America and Europe check takes a longer time to clear here in China thereby holding business down for us and our business
associates.
Salary is based on percentage level. For every payment you receive from
our customers on our behalf is 20% commission. You will also be
receiving 2.5% bonus annually for all payment received through you to us.
If you are interested in this part time job offer, please forward to us
the following information;
Name:Address:
City:State:
Country:
Zip code:
Phone:
Occupation:
Age:
Note that you don't need to make any upfront payment for this Job offer and your bank account information is not needed too.
Work with us and you will be glad you did.
Yours Sincerely
MR.SHOU FANG.
CHAIRMAN & CEO.
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