419 scam: "United Bank For Africa (U.B.A)" <cindy@topia.co.kr> Letter from the United For Africa (U.B.A)

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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:
- "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. )
- "consignment " (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)
- "hundred thousand united state 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)
- ",500,000" (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)
- "00,000.00" (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)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
- "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "cotonou" (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 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.
- richmur4uba@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "United Bank For Africa (U.B.A)" <cindy@topia.co.kr>
Reply-To: <richmur4uba@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2015 03:26:29 -0500
Subject: Letter from the United For Africa (U.B.A)

UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA BENIN
AGBOKOU STREET,COTONOU
P.M.B. 0127, AGBOKOU, COTONOU.

Dear sir/Ma.

Am Richard Moore, director cash processing unit, United Bank for Africa (UBA) the only bank appointed by the AFRICAN UNION Members lead
by President Robert Mugabe.

Because of the frauds going on in West Africa countries where some innocent beneficiaries were asked to pay in advance before receiving
their money owed to them. The above Africa union held meeting in Benin republic and resolved to pay all beneficiaries in cash through means
of diplomatic courier service. We receive your files from international monetary fund (I.M.F.) as one of the beneficiaries.

Take note; Five million five hundred thousand united state dollars ($5,500,000.00) has been signed to your file for your compensation for
all you have lost to the fraudsters in the past. If anybody tells you that he is paying you in bank draft or telegraphic money transfer both
western union and money gram, do not listen to him or her because due to this frauds no international bank honors our remittance instruction
any more that is why we settled to pay in cash through courier.

If you just follow my instructions, you will receive your money in three days time. All you have to do is to pay the sum of three hundred
and fifty United State dollars (US$350) for the Risk Assessment Report (RAR) document here in Benin Republic as every other shipping expenses
have been paid for and taken care of by the United Bank For Africa (U.B.A) and the Africa Union (A.U) board of trusties respectively.

Your fund has been packaged in a consignment box and will be taken to the diplomatic courier service for immediate shipment once we are
satisfied with the information you are to provide us with, I will also send the picture and video of the box by attachment to you to see how
the money is packed, and we will send you more mails to give you more information for you to know the genuineness of this transaction.

Therefore, do forward your home address,your full name and that of your next of kin and direct phone number to us for quick delivery
because time is not in our side. All the documents will be sent to you if we are assured that you have stopped sending money to those fraudsters.

Am waiting to hear from you with the required information of yours as soon as possible.

Richard Maurice.
<Director cash processing unit>
United Bank For Africa. (U.B.A).
Email: richmur4uba@gmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam