419 scam: "info@unionbankng.org" <purvyandlarry@yahoo.com> From the Union Bank.

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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.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "money gram" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "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)
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
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.
- +2348034900481 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "info@unionbankng.org" <purvyandlarry@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: infocomttaxx@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2011 03:57:45 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From the Union Bank.

FROM THE DESK OF: MRS IYABO MICHEAL WHITE.
DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE
FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA,PLC
TEL: +234-803-490-0481

LAGOS-NIGERIA.

ATTN: ,

AFTER A SERIES OF MEETING BY THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THIS BANK IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT YOU ARE YET TO CLAIM YOUR $15.5 MILLION US DOLLARS.

IN THE PROCESS A PLEA WAS MADE ON YOUR BEHALF BY THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) NOT TO CANCEL YOUR FUND.

IT WILL INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT THE PLEA ON YOUR BEHALF WAS AS A
RESULT OF HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS CONSIDERING THE AFTERMATH OF THE BOMB
BLAST WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE HERE IN NIGERIA.

AS SUCH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE DECIDED TO GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE
TO MAKE SOLID CLAIM TO YOUR FUND AND IF YOU FAIL THEY WILL NOT HESITATE
TO HAVE YOUR FUND RETURNED BACK TO THE GOVERNMENTS TREASURY AS AN
UN-CLAIMED FUND.

THEREFORE, IF YOU FUND MUST BE RELEASED TODAY TO BE IN ANY BANK ACCOUNT
OF YOUR CHOICE YOU MUST SECURE THE CERTIFICATE OF PROBATE (COB) AND THE
BANK
TRANSFER APPROVAL (BTA) WHICH HAS WARRANTED US TO CONTACT YOU BY
INFORMING YOU OF THE CAUSE OF YOUR TRANSFER DELAY.

THIS TWO CERTIFICATES ARE REQUIRED BECAUSE OF THE 9/11 INCIDENT THIS YOU
ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF AS IT IS REQUIRED TO PROTECT YOUR FUND AND THE
PEOPLE OF YOUR COUNTRY TO ASCERTAIN THAT ALL AND ANY FUND COMING INTO
YOUR COUNTRY MUST BE BACKED UP WITH THIS TWO VERY VITAL CERTIFICATES.

SO THEREFORE TO SECURE THESE TWO DOCUMENTS YOU MUST AS A MATTER OF URGENCY PAY THE
SUM OF $88 VIA WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM TO THE INFORMATION BELOW.

RECEIVERS NAME: PHILLIPS GOODLUCK
RECEIVERS ADDRESS: LAGOS/NIGERIA
AMOUNT: $88 ONLY
TEXT QUESTION: LAND
TEXT ANSWER: GREEN
REFERENCE NUMBER:

PLEASE DO THIS NOW AND CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY SO THAT YOUR FUND IS RELEASED TO YOU WITHOUT ANY WASTE OF TIME.

I WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU IMMEDIATELY.

CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE.

WE CARE,

BEST REGARDS,

MRS IYABO MICHEAL WHITE.
DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE

FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPT,
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC,
LAGOS-NIGERIA.
TEL:+234-803-490-0481.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam