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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.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- patchan819@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Patrick Chan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <patchan819@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:21:57 +0100
Subject: Very Urgent response!!
Mr.Patrick K. W. Chan
(Executive Director & Chief financial Officer)
Hang Seng Bank Limited
83 Des Voeux Road, Central
Hong Kong SAR
It is understandable that you might be a little bit apprehensive because you do
not know me but I have alucrative business proposal of mutual interest to share with you. I got your
reference in my search for someone who suits my proposed business relationship.
I am Mr. Patrick K. W. Chan Executive Director & Chief financial Officer of HangSeng Bank Ltd. and my
colleague Victoria Tsang have an obscured business suggestion for you. I will
need you to assist me inexecuting a business project fromHong Kong to your country. It involves the
transfer of a large sum of money. Everything concerning thistransaction shall be legally done without
hitch. Please endeavour to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue.
Once the funds have been successfully transferred into your account, we shall share in the ratio to be
agreed by both of us.
I will prefer you reach us on this email address: patchan819@gmail.com and finally after that I
shall furnish you with more information’s about this operation.
Please if you are not interested delete this email and do not hunt me because I
am putting my career and
the life of my family at stake with this venture. Although nothing ventured is
nothing gained.
Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Patrick Chan
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Anti-fraud resources:
