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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "million 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.
- 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.
- leekuncho@realtyagent.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Lee Kun Cho" (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2017 16:25:15 +0100
Subject: Ministry of Housing.
My name is Lee Kun Cho, I work for the ministry of Housing and National
Heritage Bureau in Shandong Province of China. I have URGENT and discreet
business proposal for you that will benefit us immensely. I urge you to
please take a few minutes to read through my letter. This will intimate you with what is intended.
Before I reveal any sensitive information it is important I state
categorically that this is privilege information which i am about to
divulge. I will ask that you please treat it with discretion and
confidentiality. Also at this stage i humbly apologise for being so direct
in my approach.
I am contacting you regarding a property investment in the Shandong province
of China. Its a block of flats that was sold as derelict hence far below
the actual value. Its been renovated and upgraded. This said property was
acquired for less than 5 million dollars. The present value is way above 20
million dollars. This was all made possible by myself and 2 other
colleagues.
This property was acquired using government insider influence. It was also
listed as investment financed with foreign funds. This was all to divert
attention, due to the fact that as government officials we are not allowed
to directly get involved with acquiring such properties due to conflict of
interest.
Should you be interested, then I will like to hear from you the soonest time
possible via my contact details above to enable me provide you with more
details on how we are to proceed. I anticipate and look forward to a
successful business relationship with you.
Yours faithfully,
Lee Kun Cho.
Email: LeeKunCho@realtyagent.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
