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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.
- This email message is a next of kin scam.
- 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.
- 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.
- mjf991@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Michael Field <info@hsbc.org>
Reply-To: mjf991@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:56:23 -0800
Subject: INQUIRY
This is a confidential message from Northern Capital and Investment: Private Equity and financial Consultants.
We are conducting a standard process investigation on behalf of HSBC PRIVATE BANKING,
the private banking arm of the international Banking conglomerate.
This investigation involves a client who shares the same surname with you and also the circumstances surrounding investments made by this client at HSBC Private.
The client died in intestate and nominated no successor in title over the investments made with the bank. The essence of this communication with you is to request you provide us information/comments on any or all of the issues:
1-Are you aware of any relative/relation who shares your same name whos last known contact address was Brussels Belgium?
2-Are you aware of any investment of considerable value made by such a person at the Private Banking Division of HSBC Bank PLC?
3-Can you establish beyond reasonable doubt your eligibility to assume status of successor in title to the deceased?
It is pertinent that you inform us ASAP whether or not you are familiar with this personality that we may put an end to this communication with you and our inquiries surrounding this personality.
You must appreciate that we are constrained from providing you with more detailed information at this point. Please respond to this mail as soon as possible to afford us the opportunity to close this investigation.
Thank you for accommodating our enquiry.
Yours Truly
Michael Field
T: +44 (0)704 570 8434
Email: mjf991@hotmail.com
Manchester M3 6AY United Kingdom
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Anti-fraud resources:
