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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 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 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.
- +447045701451 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- 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.
- hsbcbank00atm@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "DR.ELLIOT SMITH" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hsbcbank00atm@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2012 20:47:15 -0400
Subject: (FUND DIVERT ALERT) FROM YOUR NEXT OF KIN MRS.ELIZABETH RENEE
HSBC BANK OF LONDON
22 victoria st.westminister
London,SW1HONJ
LONDON
TEL:+44 70457 01451
FAX:+44 203 002 4667
EMAIL:hsbcbank00atm@yahoo.com.hk
Attention:Beneficiary
Good day,
Reference to your over Due United Nation Scam Victims compensational payment of USD$7.5 Million Dollars through a certified H.S.B.C A.T.M Corporate Card which has being issued in your name since last year is about to be diverted by one MRS.ELIZABETH RENEE whom applied for change of the beneficiary Name from your Name to her Name MRS.ELIZABETH RENEE as your next of kin based on this development that is the mean reason we are contacting you to confirm this application.
Failure to hear from you within the next 48hrs from now we are mandated to proceed with the Payment in her name as your next of kin to the USD$7.5 Million Dollars.
stated below are her contact details
NAME:MRS.ELIZABETH RENEE
ADDRESS:444 Central Ave Carlstadt NEW JERSEY
TEL:201-438-3400
Waiting to hear from you as fast as possible with the following details as fast as possible.
1)YOUR FULL NAME:------------------------------------------------------
2)YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER:----------------------------------
3)A COPY OF YOUR DRIVING LICENCE:-------------------------------
4)YOUR FULL RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS:----------------------------------
Awaiting to hear from you as soon as possible please call me immediately on this number:+44 70457 01451
Sincerely,
Dr. Elliot Smith
TEL:+44 70457 01451
>>
If your account information is not updated, your ability to access your account will be restricted.
Thank you
HSBC The World's Local Bank
* Please do respond to this email as soon as possible
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Anti-fraud resources:
