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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Hsbc London Payment Department Uk <foriegnpaymentdept@hsbclonuk.org>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 08:47:58 +0100
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT FROM HSBC BANK LONDON
THIS IS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS NO WAY THE TWO HSBC BANK OFFICIALS CAN
PROCEED TO MEET WITH YOU IN THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA WITHOUT YOU SENDING
THE COPY OF YOUR ID SO YOU ARE HEREBY ADVICE TO SEND IT AS SOON AS YOU
RECEIVE THIS EMAIL EITHER VIA FAX OR EMAIL OR ELSE THE BANK WILL NOT
HESITATE TO CANCEL YOUR PAYMENT.
MEANWHILE THE BANK HAVE ALREADY CONCLUDE EVERY ARRANGEMENT FOR THE ARRIVAL
OF THE TWO BANK OFFICIALS IN THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA ON WEDNESDAY THE
7TH OF OCTOBER, 2009.
TREAT AS URGENT.
REGARDS,
DOUGLAS FLINT
CHAIRMAN OF INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT HSBC BANK PLC LONDON, UK.
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Anti-fraud resources:
