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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "HSBC BANK PLC LONDON" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <auditor004@web2mail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 May 2010 13:25:26 +0100
Subject: Re: REF:OVERDUE PAYMENT NOTIFICATIONS HSBCBANK PLC LONDON

DEAR CLIENT.


PAYMENT#:MAV///MIN/009 APPROVAL TRANSFER ORDER



REF:OVERDUE PAYMENT NOTIFICATIONS HSBC BANK PLC LONDON

THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOU'RE OVER DUE INHERITANCE FUNDS HAS BEEN GAZETTED
TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TELEX TRANSFER (KTT)-DIRECT WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU BY
HSBC BANK COMMITTEE FOR YOUR FUNDS WILLED OVER TO YOU NOW READY FOR
TRANSFER.MEANWHILE, A WOMAN CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A SWORN
AFFIDAVIT FROM HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE,AND
THAT YOU HAVE AUTHORIZED HER TO
RECEIVE YOUR FUND ON YOUR BEHALF.HERE ARE HER IN FORMATIONS

NAME DEBBIE SMITH.
BANK NAME: CITI BANK, NEW YORK.
BANK ADDRESS:NEW YORK,
USA ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809428.

PLEASE, DO RECONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS WOMAN IS
FROM YOU SO THAT THE HSBC BANK WILL NOT BE BEHELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING INTO
THE WRONG ACCOUNT NAME. THE RESERVE BANK GOVERNOR, EXECUTIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AND THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR FOREIGN OVER DUE INHERITED FUND HAVE BEEN APPROVED
AND ACCREDITED THIS REPUTABLE BANK WITH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR,INTERNATIONAL
REMITTANCE / FOREIGN OPERATIONS, TO ENSURE
THAT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE RECEIVE THIS FUNDS PAYMENT AS SOON AS THIS MONTH.WE
HAVE RECORD IDENTIFYING YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THIS PAYMENT SO THIS FUND IS
ON YOUR NAME AND MANDATED THAT YOU SHOULD NOT
HESITATE TO MAKE CLAIM OF IT. HOWEVER,WE SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE ALL PAYMENTS
DETAILS TO THE SAID MRS. DEBBIE SMITH IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE
NEXT SIX WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY.

WE AS YOUR BANK ADVICE YOU TO RECONFIRM YOUR DATA AS FOLLOWS FOR US TO CONFIRM WITH YOUR
FILE HERE IN ACCOUNT PAYMENT DEPARTMENT HSBC LONDON:

YOUR FULL NAME:.........................

PHONE / FAX IF ANY FAX:................

HOME ADDRESS:.....................

MEANWHILE DO INDICATE TO ME IF YOU IN ANY WAY RECEIVES THIS LETTER


CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.

PAUL SMITH

EXECUTIVE OPERATIONAL MANAGER
HSBC BANK PLC LONDON

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