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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:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "million 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)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- 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.
- onlinehsbcbankmy1@accountant.com (Outblaze.com, Hong Kong; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: "leongsoon011111.cheong" <leongsoon011111.cheong@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2014 19:35:10 +0100
Subject: Your Compensation Approval Message: "Sorry for the late response"
Inline with the report we received previously that you have sent money to
fraudsters in Africa, we have carried out verifications at Western Union
Money Transfer Headquarters to know if truly you have sent money to
fraudsters in Africa and it was confirmed to us by Western Union that you
have sent money to Africa on several occasions. In this regard you are
hereby entitled to compensation in the on-going compensation program
organized in Malaysia by INTERPOL to be implemented by HSBC BANK Malaysia.
to Claim this Compensation Fund of US$3.5Million Dollars. Contact HSBC BANK
via the email address stated below for your compensation.
HSBC Bank Malaysia
2 Leboh Ampang, Kuala Lumpur,
Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
HSBC BANK Email Address: onlinehsbcbankmy1@accountant.com
Contact Person ; Mrs Siti Cahaya ,
Contact Phone Number : + 60102412298
Note: You are to send Mrs Siti Aisyah the details as listed below:
Your Full Name
Your Home Address
Your Mobile Phone Number
Your Landline Phone Number (if any)
You must be above (18 Years Old)
Mr.Atan Che
This message is from the Internet Fraud Department,
The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO, INTERPOL)
The Malaysia Department Security
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Anti-fraud resources:
