419 scam: "Dr. Paul Anderson" <dr.paula@yahoo.com> From United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA)

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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:
- "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. )
- "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)
- "(efcc)" (This name is often mentioned in money recovery scams (re-scam): the real EFCC does not contact victims to offer to get their money back because that is near impossible. )
- "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "federal republic of benin" (Benin, Cameroon, etc. are no Federal Republics, unlike Nigeria where this type of scam was invented)
- "dr.paula@secretary.net" (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.
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.
- +22963886890 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr. Paul Anderson" <dr.paula@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: dr.paula@secretary.net
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2018 14:08:49 -0300
Subject: From United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA)

--
From United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA)
Address of Corporate Headquarters
Carrefour des trois Banques Avenue
Pape Jean Paul II, Cotonou, Benin
Tel; +22963886890

Attention Beneficary,

Records show that you are among one of the individuals and organizations
who are yet to receive their overdue payment from overseas which
includes those of Lottery/Contract and Inheritance Payment From 2010
years ago till 2018 Records. Through our Fraud Monitory Unit we have
also noticed that over the past 6 good Years,You have been transacting
with some impostors and fraudsters In Cotonou-Benin
Republic,Ghana,Spain,London UK and even Togo who have been impersonating
likes of Courier Companies,Western Union & Bankers, none officials of
Eco Bank,And some impostors claiming to be The Federal Bureau of
Investigation. The Cyber Crime Division of the FBI gathered information
from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ICCC) formerly known as the
Internet Fraud Complaint Center (EFCC) of how some people have lost
outrageous sums of money to these impostors/Fraudsters. As a result of
this we hereby advise you to stop communication Completely with any one
not referred to you by us United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA).

We have negotiated with the Federal Ministry of Finance that your
payment total US$6,900,000.00 has been released to you via a custom pin
based ATM-card with a maximum withdrawal limit of $20,000 a day which is
powered by Visa Card and can be used anywhere in the world where you see
a Visa Card Logo on the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).

We have advised that this should be the only way at which you are to
receive your payment because itâ€™s more guaranteed than any other means
and what a joy that I will deliver the ATM-Card directly to you with
the PIN Access Codes and The good News is that You will makes use of the
ATM-Card in my Presence by using the ATM-Card to Withdraw to Confirm it
Life, Please Be Noted that over $5 billion was lost on fake cheque For
past years. We give you 100% Guarantee over this Card, because we have
perfected everything in regards to the release of your US$6,900,000.00
United States Dollars to be 100% risk free and free from any hitches as
itâ€™s our duty to protect you and Your Property.

This is as a result of the mandate from US Government to make sure all
debts owned to people which includes Inheritance, Contract,
Gambling/Lottery etc are been cleared for the betterment of the current
economic status of the nation And its citizens as he has always believed
â€œOur Time for Change has comeâ€ because â€œChange can happen To redeem your
fund you are hereby advised to Be In Contact with United Bank for
Africa Plc (UBA) via email & Phone always for their requirement to
proceed and procure your Affidavit of Payment Warrant and Endorsement of
your ATM Release Order on your behalf.

Please Reply with this details Below:

Your full Name:..........
Your Country:............
Your Address:............
Home/Cell Phone:.........

Please This Details above will help us to Secure and know that You are
right Beneficiary to receive this Card, It is very necessary and You
Funish us all this Infos on receipt of this message. Email: (
dr.paula@secretary.net ) Executive Director: Dr. Paul Anderson.

We Promise to Serve you better, Thanks and My Regards to your Family.

Dr. Paul Anderson
Executive Director
Federal Republic of Benin
Call; +22963886890

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam