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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.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "bank charges " (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. )
- "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.
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: UBA BANK <ken.uzorka.uba2015@gmail.com>
Reply-To: info.ubabankalert@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2017 08:55:33 +0100
Subject: Attention Honorable Beneficiary
Group headquarters in Lagos.
Head office address:
UBA House, 57 Marina
P.O. Box 2406
Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: +234-81-24610824.
Fax: +234 1 2644760
Website: www.ubagroup.com
Attention Honorable Beneficiary,
This is to inform you that the United for Africa (UBA) has made good
arrangement for all the scam victims here to receive their funds
through the bank without payment from your pocket.
The bank has contacted the Financial Consultant in America to finance
your payment which the Financer will borrow you money to enable you to
pay all the charges here before your main funds US$5.5Millon Dollars
will release to your account.
The money will come to you through bank draft, the Financier will
raise a bank draft to you and send to you immediately you cash the
money I will directed you where to send the money here to enable to
pay all the bank charges and Government charges involve before your
funds will release to you by the bank.
The Financier will raise you US$35,000,00 Dollars through bank draft.
You have to forward your home address and your private telephone
number where the bank draft will send to you by the Financier.
Thanks
Mr. Ajibade Adeshina
United Bank for Africa (UBA)
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Anti-fraud resources:
