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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:
- 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:
- "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)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- +447031981663 (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.
- hsbcbankplc@london.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr Godwin Bike" <stephenalexander@w.cn>
Reply-To: <godwinbike@sify.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:13:10 +0100
Subject: RE: Online ATM MasterCard on your name
Attention Beneficiary;
This is to inform you that a solution on how you will receive your money through telegraphic Transfer or ATM MasterCard from HSBC Bank London has been made.
We instructed all banks and companies to move all outstanding payments to HSBC Bank London. This was done in other to beat those fraudsters that extort money from Foreigners without having power to release their funds.
As it stands now, your payment which worth $10.5 Million dollars with its Original Coverage Documents and its secret accreditation Access code are in HSBC Bank London. Kindly contact Mr. Robert H Penman the director foreign payment HSBC bank London with the below information so that he will release the money to you.
Contact person: Mr. Robert H Penman
Office E-mail; hsbcbankplc@london.com
Private E-mail; roberthpenmann@w.cn
Office Phone: +44-703-198-1663
Supply them all your contact information so that they can release your $10.5 million dollars to you without delay. Moreover you are advice to stop all communication you are having with any persons or banks with regard to your payment because HSBC Bank London is the only authorized bank to issue you this payment.
Keep me posted through my official email below and let me know when you have received your money.
Mr. Godwin Bike
Director payment directive and instructive under
International Monetary Union
E-mail; godwinbike@instructor.net
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Anti-fraud resources:
