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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)
- 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.
- testalk@126.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "HSBC(Iain Mackay)" <895@ecclesia.gr>
Reply-To: tress.americas@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2015 17:13:02 +0100
Subject: RE: Your fund is now ready
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HSBC Bank Plc  
Bank Address: 28 Borough High St
London SE1 1YB
United Kingdom
Attention !
The Central working committee of HSBC BANK PLC hereby warn & advise you
to stop further communication regarding your fund with other financial
institution or individual for your own good. They will only keep
misleading you.To be forewarned is to be forearmed
We have received a mandate to transfer your part payment of
$5,000.000.00 (Five Million US dollars). This is equivalent of
£3,329.316.00 Great Britain Pounds.
For further processing, you are required to send us the following
immediately.
Kindly send me the following
Your full name
Contact Address
Telephone/Fax
Occupation
A copy of drivers license or passport
On receive your prompt response, we shall proceed with necessary
modalities.
Regards
Miriam Hellman.
Iain Mackay
Group Finance Director
http://www.hsbc.com/about-hsbc/leadership
Send your initial response to testalk@126.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
