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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:
- "activation fee" (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. )
- "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. )
- "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. )
- "you are required to pay " (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. )
- "bnkofafric@outlook.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
- 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.
Fraud email example:
From: Dr Johnson Igwe <"IGWE."@topaz.ocn.ne.jp>
Reply-To: Dr Johnson Igwe <bnkofafric@outlook.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2017 20:21:28 +0900 (JST)
Subject: Re:UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA)
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA)
FOREIGN OPERATIONS UNIT
FINANCIAL AUDITS AND VETTING DEPT.
9th Floor, 17 La Capital Hotel Street, Porto-Novo Benin.
Direct Number:+229 68053546
Email: bnkofafric@outlook.com
Dear Valued Customer,
This is to inform you that after series of investigations by International Monetary Fund (I.M.F) and International Intelligent Monitoring Units with the management of United Bank For Africa?(UBA).We are instructed to release your ATM card PIN NUMBER and ACTIVATE your funds valued at $1.6 USD that has been pending into your ATM Visa card you received.You are requested to furnish us with your ATM VISA CARD NUMBER AND EXPIRE DATE details to enable our ATM DEPT to Activate your funds immediately.
Mean while you are required to pay $59 for the Activation of your ATM card and The Authorities above has given you only 24 hours to send the activation fee and fail to do so,Your funds will transfer to the Government account because it has been getting to the limit of Government to claim the funds and You are to send the fee through western union or money gram. Below are our account officer receiver name information.
Receiver name: Chris Ike
Receiver Country:Benin Republic.
City: PortoNovo
TextQuestion: When
TextAnswer: Today
Amount to send $59 USD
Sender Name:........
Sender Address:.....
sender Phone:.......
MTCN:...............
Looking forward to hear from you soon with the required information.
Best Regards.
Dr Johnson Igwe
Payment Director
United Bank For Africa,
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