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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:
- "hundred thousand united states 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.
Fraud email example:
From: UNITED BANK OF AFRICA UBA <gianros1@tim.it>
Reply-To: ubabank.officemail@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2017 10:14:46 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: INSTRUCTIONS TO DELIVER YOUR ATM VISA CARD.
We are pleased to inform you that your total of $4.500, 000.00 [Four million
five
hundred thousand United States dollars only] has been fully accredited into
an
ATM MASTER CARD as directed by the ECOWAS. This instruction was given to
us due to challenges and difficulties posed by greed set of people contacted
previously to transfer your funds to you. As a result of this, and also to
avoid
delay and transfer expenses, we have been fully mandated to process your total
funds into an ATM MASTER CARD which will enable you to cash your funds easily
at your convenient time.Your ATM MASTER CARD will be able to make withdrawal
in any ATM Machine any where any time worldwide.
You are required to reconfirm the following information below for DHL’s urgent
delivery
of your card:
Your full name--------
Your address----------
Your country-----------
Your ID card------------
Your age--and occupation-----
Your phone number----
Your card has already been activated therefore will be accessible as soon as
you
receive it. Get back to me as soon as you receive this mail for more update
and directions on how to get this done immediately.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs. Rose Egobia
Director of Operations, UBA
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Anti-fraud resources:
