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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:
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a 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.
- +448719157924 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
Fraud email example:
From: "HSBC BANK" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.ellizabeth@careceo.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 12:36:41 +0530
Subject: 2014 HSBC BANK AWARD
Attention: Sir/Madam
HSBC abbreviation origin was founded in the former British colony (in March 1865) In February 2008; HSBC was named the world's most valuable banking brand by The Banker magazine. We are celebrating the HSBC bank this week in United Kingdom and do not be surprise that your E-mail is among the Five (5) Lucky E-mails That Won GBP 500,000.00 (Five Hundred Great British Pounds Sterling) Each, your secret pin code is {25512560} please keep it very confidential to yourself for security reason which is the key to your amount of 500,000.00 GBP.
To Claim Kindly Fill Below Form.
Your Full Name:______________________________________________________________
House Address:______________________________________________________________
Direct Mobile:_______________________________________________________________
Sex:_______________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth:_______________________________________________________________
Occupation:________________________________________________________________
Marital Status:_______________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT NOTICE: You Are Hereby Advised to Fill up the above Details and Send Madam Elizabeth Via E-mail: info@hsbbks.com or hsbsclaim@careceo.com Mobile: +448719157924. Failure To Send The Above Details, Your Winning Prize Will Be Deemed Fortified By You And Will Be Returned Back To HSBC BANK As Unclaimed.
Regards,
Mr. Dave G. Hartmann
General Manager
HSBC Bank London
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Copyright ©2014 HSBC BANK, All rights reserved
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Anti-fraud resources:
