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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:
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- 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.
- bankunited13@yahoo.com.hk (Yahoo, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "HSBC Bank Benin." <hsbldn@msn.com>
Reply-To: bankunited94@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:54:27 +0100
Subject: CONTACT UNITED BANK US TODAY.
Attention our dear customer:
We are happy to inform you that your US$1.2 Million has been transfered into
our bank for onward remittance into your bank account today. We did not
transfer the funds direct into your bank account due to the President Obama's
new method of financial obligations as presented as one of his campain terms
for second tenure come 2012. He gave an instruction that any funds above
$50,000.00 will be transfered to WASHINGTON DC, USA for investigation before
the final remittance into the beneficiary's account.
The United bank is the only bank that has been given authority to handle any
transaction from overseas to the States. We heard that you have spent some
money in order to receive your funds which results nothing in return. Now, You
will receive your funds as soon as you contact bank today. Email the bank as
soon as you receive this email.
I hereby direct you to contact the US bank through this information below with
your information and a copy of your identification.
UNITED BANK PLC.
WASHINGTON DC, USA.
E-mail: bankunited13@yahoo.com.hk
They will complete the remittance of the funds into your Bank account today
once they hear from you. Congratulations once again.
Yours in service,
Richard Westerfield
HSBC BANK CO-OPERATION.
COTONOU, BENIN REPUBLIC.
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Anti-fraud resources:
