419 scam: "Mr. Tony Elumelu"<covell50@sbcglobal.net> OUR REF: UBAPLC/FGN/NNPC/27781/09

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
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.
- +23417591176 (Nigeria, landline)
- 2347035487781
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- tonye_ubaplc1@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Tony Elumelu" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <tonye_ubaplc1@sify.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:20:04 -0700
Subject: OUR REF: UBAPLC/FGN/NNPC/27781/09

UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC
HEAD OFFICE: UBAHOUSE
37 MARINA, LAGOS-NIGERIA.
TEL: 234-703-548-7781, FAX: 234-1-7591176
EMAIL: tonye_ubaplc1@sify.com

OUR REF: UBAPLC/FGN/NNPC/27781/09

PAYMENT APPROVAL / REMITTANCE NOTICE

WE ARE OBLIGED TO INFORM YOU THAT FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF 2009 BUDGET, WE HAVE RECEIVED A PAYMENT ORDER FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE INSTRUCTING US TO CONTACT YOU FOR THE REMITTANCE OF YOUR CONTRACT / INHERITANCE FUNDS INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WITHOUT ANY DELAY.

HOWEVER, WE ARE HANDLING THIS TRANSFER WITH EXTREME AND VIVID CAREFULNESS IN OTHER TO AVOID ANY WRONGFUL TRANSFER, BASED ON THAT WE CANNOT REMIT THIS FUNDS IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT FIRST CONTACTING YOU TO FIND OUT THE FOLLOWING SECURITY ORIENTED INFORMATION VIS:

YOUR NAME:
YOUR ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE AND FAX NO.:
BANK NAME:
BANK ADDRESS:
ACCOUNT NUMBER:
ACCOUNT NAME:
SWIFT CODE: OR
ROUTING NUMBER:
OCCUPATION:
MARITAL STATUS:
AND AGE:

THE MOMENT THIS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED, WE WILL PROGRAMMED IT INTO OUR SYSTEM AND AS SOON AS THAT IS DONE, WE WILL IMMEDIATELY WIRE YOUR CONTRACT / INHERITANCE FUNDS SWIFTLY TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND ALL THE TRANSFER CONFIRMATION DETAILS WILL BE FORWARDED TO YOU FOR YOUR EASY CONFIRMATION WITH YOUR BANK.

PLEASE YOU ARE ADVISED TO COMPLY WITH THESE DIRECTIVES IMMEDIATELY SO AS TO ENABLE US INCLUDE YOUR FILE IN OUR PAYMENT MASTER LIST (PML) WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR IMMEDIATE / FINAL REMITTANCE.

WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT RESPONSE.

REGARDS AND GOD BLESS YOU.

MR. TONY ELUMELU
GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC
REMITTANCE NOTICE

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam