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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:

Fraud email example:

From: "Nancy McKinstry" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <alanlenskart2001615@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2015 08:31:19 -0700
Subject: Re:Group Head Retail & Global Banking

HSBC Bank Ontario
888 Dundas Street East
L4Y 4G6, Mississauga
Ontario. CANADA.

>From the Desk of: Nancy McKinstry
Group Head Retail & Global Banking

Attn: Our Valued Customer,

Ref: PAYMENT OF YOUR OUTSTANDING FUND BY HSBC BANK

Refer to the above subject matter,we wish to inform you that one Mr. Edward L. Laurent of Oswego, Illinois 60542. USA came to our office last week and submitted a request authorizing him to receive your fund ($7.5 million) with this bank,on your behalf.

He informed us that you are aware of this and in fact you sent him on your behalf to receive the fund. As a matter of urgency, you are required to verify the following information and inform us if you are aware or know anything about this. We have asked them to come back later this week because they did not provide any power of attorney from you which will prove that you sent them on your behalf. This was to enable us contact you directly and verify how genuine their claims are.

Our questions therefore are these and it is very important you answer them clearly:

1) Did you instruct one Mr. Edward L. Laurent of 1 Merchants Place, Oswego, IL 60543. USA, Whose account information are stated below, to claim and receive this funds on your behalf?

A) Name: Edward L. Laurent
B) Bank Name: Fifth Third Bank
C) Bank Address: Douglas Square Banking Center,1 Merchants Place, Oswego, IL 60543. USA.
D) Account Number: 723383826Swift
E) Sorting Code: FTBCU536
F) Routing No: 042000314



2.Did you sign any 'Deed of Assignment' in favor of Mr. Edward L. Laurent thereby making him the beneficiary of the funds with the above account details.

Finally, you are hereby advised to indicate to this Bank urgently, if you are the one that instructed Mr. Edward L. Laurent to receive your fund with HSBC Bank Ontario Canada.

NOTE PLEASE: We require your full names, current address and telephone number(s) for re-confirmation of details.

We wait for your urgent response.

Kind Regards

Nancy McKinstry
Group Head Retail & Global Banking
HSBC Bank Ontario

Anti-fraud resources: