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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:
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
- "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.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- 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.
- +2348033431659 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
- 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.
- org.ubabankplc@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
- remittance department web site www.uba.group.com org.ubabankplc@yahoo.it atm processing unit direct line (office): uba bank of (Yahoo; can be used from anywhere worldwide)
Fraud email example:
From: Elumelu <org.ubabankplc@yahoo.it>
Reply-To: atm.dept10@yahoo.it
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2009 12:17:53 +0700
Subject: Reply Asp Mr.Tony Elumelu
Reply Asp Mr.Tony Elumelu
UBA BANK PLC-INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
web site www.uba.group.com
org.ubabankplc@yahoo.it
Atm Processing Unit
Direct Line (Office):
UBA Bank of Nigeria.
West Africa.
Hot line:
Direct line: +234-8033431659
MESSAGE FROM UNION BANK OF AFRICA (UBA)
WE ARE INSTRUCTED BY MINISTRY OF FINANCE LAGOS - NIGERIA TO PROCESS YOUR OUT
STANDING PAYMENT THROUGH ATM MASTER CARD. WE WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT (UBA) BANK
HAS ALL THE FACILITIES PUT IN PLACE IN OTHER TO TRANSFER YOUR MONEY WITH OUT
DELAY.
YOU ARE ADVICE TO CONFIRM YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IF YOU ARE STILL ALIVE
BECAUSE I GOT A LETTER FROM ONE BARRISTER (NAME WITHELD) THAT YOU ARE DEAD BUT
DUE UNPRECENDENTED HAPPENIS HERE I WAS INSTRCUTED TO WRITE YOU, HAVING CALLED
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER WITHOUT ANSWER.
DUE CONSIDER IMPORTANT BY PROVIDING BELOW INFORMATION
YOUR COMPLETE NAME
HOME/COMPANY ADDRESS
OFFICE/HOME TELL NUMBER
YOUR TELL FAX
YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT OR YOUR DRIVING LICENSE
YOUR OCCUPATION
YOUR AGE
AS SOON AS WE CONFIRM ABOVE DETAILS (UBA) INTER-CREDITING DEPORTMENT WOULD
RESUME IMMEDIATE PROCESSING OF YOUR ATM MASTER CARD.UNION BANK OF AFRICA (UBA)
WILL NOT IN ANYWAY BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY FALSE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOU.
REGARD
Mr.Tony Elumelu
Reply (atm.dept10@yahoo.it)
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Anti-fraud resources:
