419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:
- "transfer of your funds" (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)
- "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.
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.
- +22998854844 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "United Bank For Africa, UBA Group" <humascikarang@mitrakeluarga.com>
Reply-To: officefiles212@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 29 Feb 2016 12:05:55 +0000
Subject: Receive your Over-Due Fund US$15.5 Million without any cost, ( sign
by United Bank For Africa, UBA Group)

--
United Bank For Africa, UBA Group

crossroads of three Banks Avenue Pope John Paul II, Cotonou, Benin 01 BP
2020 Cotonou Benin
CALL UBA BANK @ TEL +229 98854844

Dear Customer,

Thanks for the response to our message, you can now view and transfer
your long awaited payment of US$15.5 Million through our website by
clicking your log-in link portal below and log-in accurately with your
email account and password.

http://www.iimmpune.in/pagination/13/Verify.html

Just click on the above Blue Color link and Log-in accurately to view
and complete the transfer of your payment online.If the link doesn't
work automatically when you click, then copy and paste the direct log-in
portal below in a new tab on your browser and sign-in with your email
account and password to view and complete the pending transfer of your
funds today:Copy and Paste Direct Portal:

If you found this massage on your junk folder, please click it to the
inbox before clicking the link or you can copy and paste the direct
log-in portal below in a new tab on your browser and sign-in with your
email account and password to view and complete the pending transfer:

http://www.iimmpune.in/pagination/13/Verify.html

â€‹â€‹Follow the online transfer instructions to complete the transfer of
your US$15.5 Million and please do get back to us if you have any
question/confused regarding your online transfer procedures.

â€‹ NOTE: If found on your spam folder, its due to your low internet
service provider, hence, move it to your inbox before clicking on the
link.â€‹

Regards,
Mrs. Gwen Abiola Oloke
Online Managing Director
United Bank for Africa Benin

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam