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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:
- ",000,000" (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)
- "h.s.b.c.unitedkingdom@live.com" (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.
- +447024097308 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "Goa Rocks Insurance" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <goarocksinsurancetrustsecurity@live.com>
Date: Mon, 21 May 2012 18:00:27 +0100
Subject: YOUR RESPONSE IS URGENTLY NEEDED
UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION
760 UNITED NATIONS PLAZA
NEW YORK, NY 10017
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ATTENTION:
WITH THE HELP OF THE FBI AND INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE YOUR INHERITANCE /CONTRACT FUND FROM THE DEVIOUS OFFICIALS THAT DENIAL YOU THE RIGHT TO YOUR FUNDS.
FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER WE HAVE DEPOSITED YOUR FUND WORTH US$8,000,000 TO HSBC BANK PLC IN UK.
YOU ARE NOW ADVICE TO CONTACT THE BANK IN POSSESSION OF YOUR FUNDS FOR IMMEDIATE TRANSFER.
HSBC BANK PLC
MR. CLEMENT STONE
+447024097308 and +447024061592
h.s.b.c.unitedkingdom@live.com
YOUR CONFIRMATION IDENTITY PIN IS: UN/8M/ICF/HSBC/10, THIS PIN MUST BE FORWARD TO THE BANK WHEN CONTACTING THEM.
CONGRATULATION.
MR. ADAMS SMITH
UN OFFICER INCHARGE
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Anti-fraud resources:
