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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: "Ms Ann Almeida" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <phil.hendersen@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:46:46 -0700
Subject: Group Head of Private Banking/Investment

HSBC BANK PLC
172 Upper Richmond Rd,
Putney,London SW15 2SH,
United Kingdom.
Tel.No.:447023034677

>From the Desk of: Ann Almeida
Director Private Banking/Investment

Attn: Our Valued Customer,

Ref: PAYMENT OF YOUR OUTSTANDING FUND OF $7.5 MILLION BY HSBC BANK

Refer to the above subject matter,HSBC Bank wishes to inform you that one Mr Edward L. Laurent with address at 824 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alasaka (AK), 995012, USA came to our office last week and submitted an application and a request from you, authorizing him to receive the above stated fund,on your behalf. Are you aware of that please?.

He also informed us that you are aware of this and in fact,that you, personally sent him here on your behalf to receive this fund. As a matter of urgency, you are required to confirm this immediately before we proceed with the transfer of the fund to him.Though, we asked him and his lawyer to come back next week because they did not provide any power of attorney from you authorizing such, which mae their claims look suspicious. This was to enable us contact you directly and verify how genuine their claims are.

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

1) Did you instruct one Mr Edward L. Laurent of 824 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK, 99501, USA, Whose the below account information, to claim and receive the payment on your behalf?

Bank Name: WELLS FARGO
Bank Address: 301 W Northern Lights Blvd Ste 100 Anchorage AK 99503
Swift Code: WFBIUS 6S
Routing Number: 026012881
Account Number: 1010179900574
Account Name: Mr Edward L. Laurent

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

Finally, you are hereby advised to indicate to this Bank urgently, if you are the person that instructed Mr Edward L. Laurent to come for your fund with HSBC Bank London.

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





Kind Regards

Ms Ann Almeida
Group Head of Private Banking/Investment
HSBC Bank London

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