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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:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- 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 us 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)
- "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- 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.
- infonwbplc@london.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- 45 fulham broadway, sw6 1ag, united kingdom e-mail:infonwbplc@london.com with reference to your fund estimated at $10.8 million us (London; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
- foreignremittancenatwest@yahoo.com.ph (Yahoo, Philippines, Philippines; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Sharon Lomogan" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <briancase01@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:50:20 -0800
Subject: Your Urgent Clarification Needed (Natwest Bnak London)
Natwest Bank Towers,
45 Fulham Broadway, SW6 1AG,
United Kingdom
E-mail:infonwbplc@london.com
With reference to your fund estimated at $10.8 million US Dollars
currently in our payment database ready for transfer.
We received a certified LETTER OF AUTHENTICATION, account information and
instructions from one MR.DAVID DEANE a Canadian National who claimed to be
your legal
representative. The document stated that you have willingly AUTHENTICATE
him to claim the fund currently in your name under our banking custody on
your behalf ready for release.
We are writing to confirm if you really authorized MR.DAVID DEANE to claim
the fund and your Account details to be changed to another Bank Account in
favour of MR.DAVID DEANE? Bellow is the account information provided for
replacement of yours.
BANK.-HSBC CANADA
H2Z 1A2 QUEBEC CITY,CANADA
ACCOUNT NO. 2984-0008-66
SWIFT CODE. HKBCCATTCAL
This account was forwarded for immediate replacement and transfer of the
fund in question to him, but as matter of our banking Policy we need the
confirmation of your awareness to MR.DAVID DEANE claims and a certified
letter to the bank for authorization. You are hereby advised to contact
this office immediately for clarifications to this matter through this E-mail:foreignremittancenatwest@yahoo.com.ph or direct your mail to the
Director Foreign Remittance Department on E-mail: briancase01@yahoo.co.jp
We expect your urgent clarifications please.
Mrs. Sharon Lomogan
Natwest Bank London
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Anti-fraud resources:
