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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:
- "into your nominated bank account" (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)
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "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)
- "hundred thousand 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)
- "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
- 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.
- 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.
- hsbcbankdraft@usa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Hon. Peterson Owen" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <unsecbankimoon@diplomats.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 03:40:10 -0500
Subject: UNITED NATION DEBT PAYMENT.
United Nations
Monitoring/Reconciliation
Units Home Office
New York NY 10017
Acknowledgment
Attention:
On behalf of the United Nations Monitoring/Reconciliation Units Home Land Office here in New York, we wish to inform you about the latest development concerning your claims that has been on hold by HER MAJESTY TREASURY UNITED KINGDOM pending the need for a true investigation concerning your funds after several petitions mapped on your funds and the need to receive your Access Pin Code from the fund's Origin.
Sequel to the delay in making release and transfer of your funds to your account after several investigations in respect of your fund received here valued at $10.5m (Ten million, five hundred thousand US dollars)only with your interest accumulated, we as a matter of urgency request that you forward immediately your full contact address that would enable us help you to monitor your funds via wire transfer into your nominated bank account for a safe release and to avoid mistake of misconduct and to bit our security network and to avoid eye brew to your funds.
Your funds has been mapped with funds with a Payment code number HMT/UK/WEX/2010/XXVI-190076/VOL, and File Security code no, on your case=0055986 in your name and all every of your communications henceforth has to be in accordance with this secret code for security purposes.
KINDLY FORWARD TO US YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND CONTACT THE PAYING BANK FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF YOUR $10.5 MILLION DOLLARS.
You will be communicated on the time frame and date of final release of your fund as soon as we confirm your readiness to comply with our directives.
Finally you are to immediately communicate with the paying bank in United State Of America HSBC BANK TEXAS through their contact information :
Contat Person : Toney Goodman
Email Address : hsbcbankdraft@usa.com
Direct Tel : +1-9038909844
Thank you,
Peterson Owen
United Nations
Monitoring/Reconciliation
Units Home Office
Fax/+447924422910
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Anti-fraud resources:
