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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:
- "hsbcbank2020@fastwebmail.it" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: "HSBC Bank London''Remittance Unit" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hsbcbank2020@fastwebmail.it>
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:10:14 +0100
Subject: HSBC Bank London''Remittance Unit''
HSBC Bank London
Remittance Unit
Telephone: + 44-7700077141
Fax: + 44-8448121158
E-mail: hsbcbank2020@fastwebmail.it
Attn: Beneficiary,
This is to officially informed you that two people you send to our Bank to stand on your behalf in
receiving your approved inheritance/contract fund has arrived successfully but we want to be sure if
they where really sent by you that is why we contacted you first as you know that an instruction has
been given by the Debt Reconciliation Committee that all fund owed to our various beneficiaries must be
paid before the President reads the budget for the year 2011.
Below here are the account details they submitted to us to transfer your total fund with the accrued
interest, also we were informed that this account was given to them by you, so we want you to contact me
with immediately with the confirmation of this subject.
BANK NAME: WELLS FARGO BANK.
ADDRESS: 1063 11TH ST REEDLEY CA 93654
ACCOUNT #3292957895
ROUTING # 121042882.
BENEFICIARY NAME: JAMES WILSON.
Please confirm to us if this information is ok and was sent by you as to enable us commence on the
transfer immediately since the approval payment instruction has been given by Presidency, we need your
urgent response as to enable us meet up with the mandate given to us by the Presidency. we also need
your full details in order to backup your transfer payment in the following order.
FULL NAME
ADDRESS:
ZIP CODE
COUNTRY:
AGE/SEX:
OCCUPATION:
A VALID IDENTITY CARD:
Yours in service,
David Brown
Director, Remittance Unit
HSBC Bank London
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Anti-fraud resources:
