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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:
- "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. )
- "mtcn" (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. )
- "your urgent reply" (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.
Fraud email example:
From: "prueba" <prueba@orion.cnc1.net>
Reply-To: unitedbankofafrica65@rocketmail.com
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:32:11 -0400
Subject: ATM MASTER CARD UBA NEED YOUR URGENT RESPOND
UNITED BANK OF AFRICA(UBA GROUP BANK-NIGERIA)
UBA NIGERIA LAGOS,Plot 87, Ajose Adeogun Street,
Tel+2348108410625
Latest development we bring to your notice:
Due to bad network we are having here in Africa we could not be able to
complete your transfer through Bank On line Transfer as programmed.Our network
here will not carry on the programming, so we decided touse ATM MASTER CARD
method to finalize the transaction.
We have programmed an ATM MASTER CARD with your name and uploaded your total
fund of (US$1.5Million) in the Card so that you will be withdrawing it in any
ATM MACHINE. The ATM MASTER CARD works worldwide and the daily amount WITHDRAW
according to our programming system is(US$15,000.00) Fifteen Thousand Dollars
only.
I Mr.Morgan Daniel, have made the delivery arrangement with DHL DELIVERY
COMPANY NIGERIA that will carry on the delivery to your given address and the
Director told me that Delivery Cost of the ATM MASTER CARD to your house is
(US$250.00).
He assured me that their Company takes good 4-days to complete any delivery
registered with accurate address. So you are advised to send the delivery
charge of the ATM CARD with your full address such as:
Full Name:____________________
Home Address:_________________
Country:______________________
State:________________________
City:_________________________
Zip code:______________________
Telephone Number:_____________
Send the Delivery charge of your ATM MASTER CARD through Western Union Money
Transfer to the following name:
Receiver Name: uzoukwu chidiebere julius
Country: NIGERIA
City: LAGOS
Test Question: In God
Test Answer: We Trust.
Amount: US$250.00
MTCN#
SENDER'S NAME:
Please your urgent reply will be appreciated for immediate registering of your
ATM CARD.
Mr.Morgan Daniel
United Bank of Africa (UBA-NIGERIA)
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Anti-fraud resources:
