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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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.

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:
  • "terrorist clearance certificate" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "clearance certificate" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "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)
  • "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447024093316 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +448709127606 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • hsbcforeignoperationremittance@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: HSBC <johnvarley02@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: hsbcforeignoperationremittance@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 01:34:37 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: HSBC


HSBC 16 King Street,
Covent Garden, London,
WC2E 8JF, United Kingdom
Tel; +44-702-409-3316
Fax; +44-87-0912-7606
Email: hsbcforeignoperationremittance@yahoo.com


I am Mr. Paul Barrett, the manager foreign operation remittance
Department of HSBC Bank London U k.



This is to bring to your notice that my office has Taking over all the money Transaction originated from any part of African and Europe countries as Contract payment, Fund inheritance or Lottery Winning due to Unauthorized/incapability of financialinstitutions/security companies In releasing such huge sum of money due to Fraud, terrorist and money Laundry activities going on world wide.



The World Bank Group has Mandated the HSBC Bank via my Office to release funds to beneficiaries through Telex Wire Transfer, Hence Your Name appears as one of The fund beneficiaries whom their fund wassuccessfully cleared recently From Terrorist and Money laundry and your money will bereleased to you Through Telex Wire Transfer that is the only way you wouldreceive Your money to avoid paying excess charges.



As regards to this arrangement,you are advised to contact the telex director Mrs. Elspeth Schwenk through her direct email; hsbcforeignoperationremittance@yahoo.com to transfer your fund into your bank Account that you would provide.



You are therefore advised to forward your direct telephone numbers,Your complete name and your mailing address including your Banking Details to Mrs. Elspeth Schwenk for Immediate release of your Ten Million Dollars Only (US10, 000, 000.00) Most importantly be was allocated to you, be also informed That the Fund Approvals and authorization documents Including Antiterrorist Clearance Certificate was issued in


your name and has been handed over To Mrs. Elspeth Schwenk to release to you through any faster courier company. Therefore be aware that your fund has obtained all the clearance to be released to you.

Finally, respond to this mail immediately including the required information.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Paul Barrett



---------------------------------
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam