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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "United Bank for Africa" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <ubaafriicaa@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 May 2022 09:48:47 -0700
Subject: Urgent Attention

Urgent Attenttion

I am Mr.Tony Elumelu,the chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc,you are lucky to have me interfere in your transaction. This message contains the terms of banking order,this is why I must inform you first before embarking on such a huge lost decision.

Your payment file was brought to my desk with aims of cancelling the transaction pending with UBA. I paused the process and decided to contact you as Group chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc.I am superior to other staff handling this transaction before, my words are final but time doesn't permit me to be in charge of anyone's transaction but as it stands, I have taken charge of your transaction. Your payment file contained information of 4,500,000:00 USD not any other amount, any other amount contrary to this amount is fake. Before I proceed,I have 3 questions for you:

1.Would you like to have this fund by ATM card?
2. Would you like to have the fund by wire transfer?
3. Would you like this transaction to be cancelled and funds confiscated?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as delayed transactions. The EFCC has notified us that the sum of 4,500,000:00 USD pending on your data will be confiscated in the next few days if the beneficiary fails to claim it. This is why you have those 3 questions to answer. I was made to understand that you are expected to remit above fees: $99 for wire transfer and $82 for ATM card.Please you have less than 48 hours to decide otherwise.


Yours faithfully in service,
Mr. Tony Elumelu
Chairman UBA.
CONFIDENTIAL NOTICE

Anti-fraud resources: