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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:
- "million 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)
- 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.
- +229 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
Fraud email example:
From: UBA BANK <lamberto@dutchmail.com>
Reply-To: official.fedexstaff@outlook.com
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2017 12:24:10 -0300
Subject: ATM CARD owner
--
Good Day,
Having reviewed all the obstacles and problems
surrounding the transfer of your USD2.8 Million Dollars and your inability
to meet up with some charges levied against you due to the past transfer
options, We the Board of Directors, United Bank for Africa UBA has issue
you a CORPORATE ATM CARD also registered it with FedEx Delivery company for
delivery to you.
Contact Person ----Mr.Richard Johnson
Phone----- +229
62899118 , call or text
E-mail--info.fedxoffice754@qualityservice.com
E-mail--official.fedexstaff@outlook.com
http://www.fedex.com
Reconfirm
the below information for urgent delivery.
RECEIVERS
NAME---------------------
RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS----------------
DATE OF
BIRTH----------------------
TEL.
NUMBER------------------------
OCCUPATION-------------------------
BENEFICIARY
COUNTRY----------------
COPY OF IDENTIFICATION CARD--------
It will take
24 hours being an overnight delivery to deliver your ATM CARD to you and
you will also have to pay for the delivery fee to the FedEx before your ATM
CARD will be be delivered to your residential address.
Regards.
Mr.Femi
Lawson.
UBA Bank.
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Anti-fraud resources:
